The thought of living with your significant other may sound romantic, especially during the holidays. Perhaps you are more practical and have financial incentives to live together. Whatever your situation, before you make the decision to take the plunge and make a firmer commitment you may want to consider a cohabitation agreement to protect yourself.

Cohabitation Agreement Key Points

Couples who cohabitate do not generally have the same legal protections that married couples do. A cohabitation agreement, however, can offer some peace of mind. It is an accord between couples involved in an intimate and long-term relationship. Texas recognizes common-law marriage but you will only be considered legally married if you have presented yourself to others as married spouses. This can be difficult to demonstrate because often couples do not make the effort to legally formalize their relationship.

If you are contemplating living together and you have no intention of getting married, it might behoove you to create a cohabitation agreement. This is a written agreement signed by the two interested parties. The cohabitation agreement can address the following points:

Prenuptial agreements or “prenups” are legal contracts that engaged couples develop before they get married. For decades, many people assumed that prenuptial agreements were only for the rich or for couples who do not take their wedding vows seriously. Fortunately, these myths have largely been eradicated. Modern couples recognize the importance of planning for their financial futures using a prenuptial agreement and realize that prenups can benefit the marriage in a multitude of ways—even if the couple never divorces. Read on to learn about prenuptial agreements in Texas and what you can do if you are interested in creating a prenup.

What is the Purpose of a Prenuptial Agreement?

A prenuptial agreement or premarital agreement mainly deals with financial issues. The document can specify:

• How property should be allocated when a spouse passes away

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