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If an unmarried couple splits up, it's not always clear who gets to keep their stuff.
06-01-09 RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Sharing a home but not wedding vows is more popular than ever in the U.S. More unmarried couples than ever before are living together, and having children together. But like marriage, committed cohabitation comes with significant legal and relationship issues.
THE DETAILS: The percentage of unmarried couples cohabitating is nearly eight times greater than it was in 1970, according to a recent article in Time magazine. More than 5 million U.S. couples now fall into the category. Recent government data shows that the number of unwed mothers has shot up not among teenagers, but rather women in the 25- to 39-year-old group (many of whom live with the father).
WHAT IT MEANS: There are some clear advantages and disadvantages to living together without marrying. “The great thing about living together is that you get invaluable information about whether it makes sense to commit your life to this person,” says relationship expert Mira Kirshenbaum, Clinical Director of The Chestnut Hill Institute in Boston and the author of 10 books, including Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Decide Whether to Stay In or Get Out of Your Relationship
Shacking up with your S.O., or considering it? Here are some pointers:
It's Too Bad
It's really too bad women have turned marriage into a losing proposition. Cohabiting will be 'the new marriage' soon. Don't get scared about not having 'rights', once you get married you don't have any. Give each other power of attorney if you think it's necessary.
Best, K.K.
15 years
We have lived together for 15 years. We have had some very rocky times and quite a few splits. I have always wanted to marry and he did not. We have learned each other and learned that marriage does not make a commitment, a commitment makes a marriage. We will now be getting married this September and because we are who we are, it will be even more meaningful than if we had done it prior to now.