Partners can commit to each other fully, yet choose not to marry. For some, that decision is financial, and for others, just a matter of choice. That choice is important not just for the milestone it represents, but for its legal implications and each partner’s future.
A Port Orchard family lawyer from Dellino Family Law can help you make wise decisions when entering or ending a committed intimate relationship.
Our founding attorney has a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating and leads a compassionate but formidable team of award-winning family lawyers. Connect with a committed intimate relationships lawyer in Port Orchard to help you build a healthy relationship or protect yourself as you end one.
An Experienced Port Orchard Committed Intimate Relationships Attorney Helps You Prepare to Enter a Partnership
If you’re entering a committed intimate relationship (CIR), it’s important to understand the implications before you move in together. Have discussions with your partner about what you expect from each other regarding the division of household responsibilities and how you’ll manage your finances, for example.
You should also work with an attorney to create a cohabitation agreement. Though it may seem “unromantic,” creating these plans can strengthen your relationship. It provides an opportunity for you and your partner to work through issues that could potentially cause conflict in your relationship.
These agreements also give you protection should your relationship end. Making the plan doesn’t mean you don’t have faith in your CIR. It means you have a realistic perspective and know the importance of preparing for the unexpected. Life does not always abide by our plans.
Post-Relationship Issues a Cohabitation Agreement Can Settle
A cohabitation agreement can establish how you and your partner will divide property should your relationship end. By documenting these directives, you have more control over the process than if you simply allowed the court to decide. You can clearly designate property and/or debt as separate or joint and determine who keeps the home should you break up.
If either or both partners come into the relationship with children, you can establish how to handle inheritances. You can also decide if one party must provide financial support to the other, and for how long, after the relationship ends.
A Port Orchard committed intimate relationships lawyer can make sure your agreement covers important issues and stands up to legal requirements.
Washington State Recognizes Committed Intimate Relationships
The paper, Beyond Marvina v. Marvin: How Washington Leads the Way in Protecting Unmarried Cohabitants, published in The Washington Review, explains the legal status of CIRs in Washington and acknowledges that laws governing these relationships continue to evolve.
To determine whether a CIR designation is appropriate for your relationship, a judge considers a variety of factors, including the length of your relationship and how long you and your partner have cohabitated. The judge will also look at each partner’s intent, the purpose of the relationship, and the extent to which you have pooled your resources and finances.
The CIR designation is especially important for “vulnerable cohabitants” upon the end of the relationship. One partner may have taken on the lion’s share of household and childcare duties while the other worked outside the home. The relationship’s legal status acknowledges the non-earning partner’s contributions and their right to shared property.
How Rights in Committed Intimate Relationships Compare to Those for Legal Marriages
Partners in CIRs share some of the same rights as legally married spouses, but not all. These differences can affect partners in a relationship and those ending one. Only work with a committed intimate relationships attorney in Port Orchard who understands the laws and your rights.
Rights of Couples in Committed Intimate Relationships and Legal Marriages Share
Unless otherwise stated in a cohabitation agreement, Washington courts treat property ownership the same for CIRs and legal marriages. Assets and debts acquired during the relationship count as joint property. If the couple separates, the court works to ensure equitable distribution of property, per RCW 26.09.080.
For couples with children, the court presumes parentage under the circumstances included in RCW 26.26A.115. If you and/or your partner bring children into your CIR or have children during your relationship, it is important to establish paternity to protect the rights of parents and children.
The court approves parenting plans that serve the child’s best interests.
When Rights for CIR Partners Differ
The court may issue spousal maintenance orders when legally married couples break up. Spousal maintenance is the term referring to payments one spouse must pay the other after a divorce. Spousal maintenance laws do not apply to CIR partners. Unless the cohabitation agreement establishes the requirement, neither partner can be court-ordered to support the other financially.
The same applies to legal fees incurred while the CIR couple officially splits. Judges can order one legally married spouse to pay the other’s divorce-related legal fees, per RCW 26.09.140. This law doesn’t extend to CIR partners.
When Rights Are Not Yet Clear
Not all issues relating to CIRs have been legally decided. Judges have created the doctrine as a “patchwork,” ruling on matters as they arise in cases brought before the court. This means issues your situation presents may be new to the court and unresolved by the law.
Dellino Family Law operates according to our core values. These values show how well-suited we are to advocating for you, whether laws regarding your situation are codified or yet to be resolved. Our dedication to excellence, diligence, and adaptability means we stay updated on new case law and develop innovative strategies to get each client the best case outcome possible.
Contact Dellino Family Law Today
You can trust Dellino Family Law to handle all matters related to your CIR. A Port Orchard Committed Intimate Relationships Lawyer knows how to help you plan for a successful relationship and how to put protections in place if your circumstances change.
Our loyal, experienced team truly wants the best for you and can do the work to deliver those results.
