In Washington State, these relationships have property rights similar to those had by married couples. It is critical that you know and understand the implications of living with an intimate partner in Washington so you can plan accordingly. Cohabitation laws apply to all couples meeting legal requirements for committed intimate relationships, including both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.
There is not a specific set of criteria or a distinct formula used to determine if a relationship constitutes a committed intimate relationship. The courts use a number of different factors when making this determination. Some of these factors among others may include:. When an unmarried cohabitating couple separates, if their relationship constitutes a committed intimate relationship as determined by the courts, their rights and responsibilities are similar to those of married couples.
If a couple cannot negotiate and come to an agreement on their own, the court may need to get involved in making determinations. Generally, property acquired during the committed intimate relationship is presumed to be owned jointly by both parties. This will be divided in a way that is fair and equitable as determined by the court. The separate property of the parties is not subject to division.
Some of the significant differences between rights in a committed intimate relationships vs. If you are considering moving in with an intimate partner or currently live with a partner, and were unaware of the Washington law on committed intimate relationships, you may be wondering what you can or should do with this information.
A common option and best way to make sure that you and your partner dictate the terms of what will happen if your relationship and cohabitation are to end is to enter into a cohabitation agreement either at the onset of moving in or even after you already have.
