Cohabitants

Cohabitants

Are you considering living together? Are you already living together? Or have you lived together and just separated? Have you thought about what will happen to your property when the relationship ends? And what about your home or children? Many couples start living together without thinking about the legal consequences, but they can be significant. After all, cohabitants are subject to different rules than married couples. For example, as a cohabitant, you are not entitled to spousal support if you end the relationship.

The legal aspects of cohabitation

Cohabitation brings with it legal obligations, even if you are not married. It is important to make clear agreements in advance, for example about:

  • The house: Who will continue to live in the house if you separate? And what happens if you are joint owners? How do you get your private investment back if you have paid more on the house than the other?
  • Contents and finances: How do you divide joint property and joint bills?
  • Children: What are your rights and obligations if you have children together? Think about custody and access arrangements. Have you acknowledged the children? Has custody been registered?
  • Cohabitation contract: Drawing up a cohabitation contract provides clarity and prevents legal disputes in the event of a divorce. Upon termination, we will help you explain the contract as well as possible and guide you through the process of disentanglement.

It is advisable to seek legal advice early to avoid unpleasant surprises. Our family law attorneys are ready to assist you in formulating contracts or resolving disputes when cohabitation has broken down. Mediation is often an appropriate way to accomplish this process. We take a holistic approach to your partnership, parenting and future aspirations.

Petra Beishuizen
Questions about this area of law?
Please contact Petra Beishuizen

Blog series: Living together in the Netherlands

Under the motto 'Living together in the Netherlands', we offer a three-part blog series in which we explain the legal aspects of living together without marriage or a registered partnership. From rights and obligations to property relations and inheritance law, we bring structure to the legal complexity. A valuable addition for those seeking security in a shared future.

What are your rights and responsibilities?

Property and legal aspects

Pension equalization and inheritance law

Team family law

Sandra Verburgt

Attorney at law/partner

Mariska Schreuders

Attorney at law

Fabian Buizer

Advocaat

Petra Beishuizen

Attorney at law/mediator/partner

The latest

Up to the minute

Tuesday 1 April 2025

Living together in the Netherlands: Pension equalization and inheritance law

Pension equalization and inheritance law

This is the third blog in our series Living together in the Netherlands, in which we discuss the legal aspects of pension and inheritance law. Living together involves not only financial arrangements and property ownership, but also pension and inheritance issues. What happens to accrued pension rights in the event of divorce? And is one partner automatically entitled to the estate of his or her ex-partner in the event of death? This blog discusses the legal aspects of pension rights and inheritance law for married couples, registered partners and cohabiting partners.

Monday 24 March 2025

Living together in the Netherlands: Property and legal aspects

Property relations

This is the second blog in our series Living together in the Netherlands, in which we discuss property relations. In addition to financial obligations and alimony, property is an important aspect for cohabitants. What happens to jointly purchased goods or a shared home when the relationship ends? This blog discusses the legal aspects of property relationships for cohabitants and how they can protect themselves legally.

Monday 17 March 2025

Living together in the Netherlands: What are your rights and responsibilities?

Living together

This is the first blog in our series Living together in the Netherlands, in which we discuss current trends and legal developments. More and more couples are choosing to live together without marriage or a registered partnership, but there are legal risks involved. In this series we will highlight the most important issues and pitfalls.

Thursday 1 June 2023

Global Parents’ Day

Global Parents’ Day

Today, on International Parents' Day, my blog pays tribute to parents worldwide for the great efforts they make in the interests of their children. For parents who have reached constructive agreements with each other in a divorce situation, I take an extra deep bow. For parents in or after divorce who have not yet found a sustainable solution, I share three tips with a worked example based on the model of connecting communication to take advantage of.