COHABITATION AGREEMENT
Important jurisdiction and formalities warning
This fictional agreement is a general example and is not legal advice. Cohabitation, property, child support, succession, tax, pension, domestic-partnership and de facto relationship laws vary substantially by jurisdiction. Some rights cannot be waived, and a court may consider conduct, economic dependence, contributions, unfairness or later events despite this document. Each person should obtain separate independent legal advice, make complete financial disclosure, and check whether witnessing, notarisation, registration or a prescribed family-law form is required before signing. This agreement does not claim universal legal validity.
1. Parties and purpose
Naomi Claire Foster, of 16 Larkspur Avenue, Meadowbank, Central State 30911, and Julian Robert Mercer, of 16 Larkspur Avenue, Meadowbank, Central State 30911, began living together on 1 February 2024 and intend to continue living together in a committed domestic relationship. They are not married to each other and have not registered a civil partnership. They make this agreement on 20 September 2026 to record their intended financial arrangements and to reduce uncertainty if they separate.
They have one child together, Milo James Mercer-Foster, born 12 July 2025. Nothing in this agreement determines Milo’s best interests, parenting orders, child support or any other matter that a court must decide under mandatory law.
2. Financial disclosure and independent choice
Naomi has disclosed a savings account containing 42,600 Central State dollars, a 2018 Ardent Vale hatchback valued at approximately 17,500 dollars, and a student loan balance of 9,800 dollars. Julian has disclosed a savings account containing 31,200 dollars, a 2021 Northline motorcycle valued at approximately 12,700 dollars, and a credit-card balance of 3,400 dollars. Each confirms that the other has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions and obtain documents.
Each person enters this agreement voluntarily, without threats or pressure, and believes the arrangements are broadly fair as at the signing date. Each will have separate legal advice from a lawyer of their own choosing, or will sign a written acknowledgment that they chose not to obtain it. A lawyer for one person must not advise the other person merely because that person attended a meeting.
3. Separate property
Property owned by either person before cohabitation remains that person’s separate property, together with any replacement, increase in value, income or proceeds, unless they later record a different ownership arrangement in writing. Naomi’s savings and Ardent Vale remain hers. Julian’s savings and Northline remain his. Gifts made specifically to one person, personal clothing, personal effects, inheritances and compensation for personal injury remain separate property unless intentionally mixed or transferred.
Each person is responsible for their own pre-existing debts. Naomi remains responsible for her student loan, and Julian remains responsible for his credit-card balance. Neither person may pledge, refinance or represent the other as responsible for a separate debt without written consent.
4. Shared home and contributions
The parties jointly purchased 45 Fernbank Crescent, Meadowbank, Central State 30911 on 1 June 2025. The purchase price was 510,000 dollars. Naomi paid 51,000 dollars toward the deposit and Julian paid 25,500 dollars. A mortgage of 433,500 dollars is held jointly. Unless a registered title, mortgage document or later written declaration states otherwise, they intend to own the home in equal shares, subject to any mandatory law.
They will contribute to mortgage principal, property tax, building insurance and essential repairs in equal monthly shares. Their initial monthly mortgage payment is 2,480 dollars, and the current monthly property-tax and insurance reserve is 340 dollars. If one pays more than that person’s agreed share, the excess is recorded as a loan to the other unless they agree in writing that it is a gift or contribution to a different ownership share. Neither may sell, mortgage or materially alter the home without the other’s written consent.
5. Household costs and accounts
The parties will deposit 1,600 dollars each month into a joint household account. The account will pay utilities, groceries, childcare, ordinary household supplies and agreed maintenance. Each may review statements, and neither may withdraw more than 500 dollars for a personal purpose without the other’s written consent. Personal purchases, personal subscriptions and separate debt payments are paid from separate funds.
Unpaid domestic work, pregnancy, parenting and caregiving are important contributions to the household. The parties do not intend to assign a cash value to those contributions or to waive any non-waivable legal claim arising from them. They will review this agreement after a material change in childcare, employment, health, ownership or income.
6. Separation arrangements
If they separate, each will promptly secure separate advice and cooperate in preparing a list of assets, debts and contributions. They will try mediation before starting court proceedings, except where urgent protection, safety, limitation deadlines or another legal exception makes that unsuitable.
They will decide whether one person buys the other’s interest in Fernbank Crescent or whether it is sold. An independent valuer jointly selected by them will determine market value. From sale proceeds, the mortgage, sale costs and recorded advances are paid first; the remaining equity is divided according to the registered ownership and any valid written adjustment. Until completion, both will contribute to necessary home costs and will not obstruct reasonable access.
7. Review, governing law and signatures
The parties will review this agreement after marriage, the birth or adoption of another child, a move to another jurisdiction, a major inheritance, purchase of a business, or a change in home ownership. Any amendment must be in writing and signed after each person has had a fair opportunity for independent advice. If a provision is invalid, the rest remains effective only to the extent the law permits. The law of Central State is the intended governing law, but mandatory law of any place with a valid connection may prevail.
Naomi Claire Foster: Signature ____________________ Date: 20 September 2026
Julian Robert Mercer: Signature ____________________ Date: 20 September 2026
Witness, Elena Ruth Park, 7 Mooring Lane, Meadowbank, Central State 30911: Signature ____________________
Witness, Darius Allen Shaw, 29 Pineglass Road, Meadowbank, Central State 30911: Signature ____________________
Each person confirms that the witnesses observed the relevant signature and that any additional execution, acknowledgment, financial disclosure or registration steps required by applicable family or property law must also be completed.