Not all couples who are in committed relationships choose to take the step of getting legally married. Some people do not believe in legal marriage for various cultural, personal, or political reasons. Many such couples choose to have a commitment ceremony that does not result in a legally binding marriage. Other couples intend to get married in the future and simply have children together first. Planning a wedding while pregnant or caring for an infant is not easy, so many couples postpone marriage until their children are a bit older. A third category of parents who cohabit but are not married are those who experienced an unintended pregnancy and are not prepared to get married but do stay together. Fortunately, there are legal steps nontraditional families can take to protect their family unit. An experienced Schaumburg, IL family law attorney can help determine what steps you should take.
