In today's society, for many people, establishment of a cohabitation agreement is of prime importance. Not having such an agreement in place between life partners can have a significant and lasting negative impact on both members of the relationship. The financial health of the relationship as well as other matters hangs on considering the questions brought up by such an agreement.

That having been said, just what is a cohabitation agreement?

Simply stated, it is, as its name implies, a written contract that life partners may choose to enter into prior to living together in a permanent relationship. A cohabitation agreement can be used to address a range of financial and property issues which may occur during the relationship, and, should the relationship end, can provide not only protection for both parties but contribute to an amicable dissolution of the relationship. Taking care of such issues before the need to address them occurs is one way of relieving stress on the relationship and allowing the parties to get on with the business of being of value to each other.

Recent news stories have tended to focus on same sex relationships and the financial and legal difficulties faced by same sex partners in most cases. As a result of this media exposure, many people would have no problem understanding why gay couples, or even non-gay but same sex life partners, would have an interest in cohabitation agreements.

However, the public at large, including perhaps some people in these relationships, may not realize that another large segment of the population also may need access to these types of legal forms and documents.

The first phrase to look at is simply 'unmaried life partners'.

These 'life partners' could be a child living with and tending to the needs of an aging parent for example. In another instance, it could simply be two people of the same or different sexes, each of whom have permanently taken upon themselves a partnership with the other for whatever reason.

The key issue for determining the possible need for a cohabitation agreement is that they are individuals who are living together in what is considered and intended to be a long term situation.

While this article is certainly not intended to provide legal advice, it might be in the interests of anyone who finds themselves in this sort of situation to either contact a lawyer for advice on their options or look into some sort of cohabitation agreement software or do it yourself legal forms.

A valuable point to consider should you decide to follow the do it yourself route is what additional documents you and your life partner may need beyond the cohabitation agreement itself. While the cohabitation agreement does address many important matters concerning finances and property during the relationship and upon its possible dissolution, there are other issues not specifically covered by a cohabitation agreement alone.

For example, there will be questions of finances, health care, property rights, and after-death issues which wil fall outside the scope of the cohabitation agreement. Just as a married couple would normally address these by preparing such legal forms as quitclaim deeds, power of attorney, last will and testament, and/or a living will or living trust, life partners will also be well advised to consider these issues as well as the items covered in a standard cohabitation agreement. Not always having the same protections under law as a typical married couple might have, it is important for life partners to be more diligent in preparing for all eventualities in advance of need.

Fortunately for many who need this sort of service, there are many comprehensive cohabitation agreement software packages and legal forms bundles which are available online. It would be in the interest of anyone in a long-term relationship with someone who could be considered a life partner to look into this type of material.