What Does Cohabitation Change?
Recognizing the impact of cohabitation on a couple’s relationship is not as black and white as simply stating that cohabitation does or does not improve a marriage’s survival chances. For example, a National Center for Health Statistics study argued that men enjoy a slight improvement in the success of their marriages when cohabitating. However, the same study also indicated that women see a slight decrease in their chances of staying together.
If your marriage is providing an unhealthy environment for you or your children, divorce may be a legal decision worth making. To discuss your options, contact the Austin divorce lawyers of Slater Kennon, LLP, by calling 512-472-2431.
Cohabitation Pressures and Benefits
Sometimes when a couple moves in together the result can be less than a drastic change in dynamics. While living together can provide some large challenges and reveal otherwise unseen character traits, some couples may not yet realize how their significant others act over long periods of time. On the other hand, for some, moving in together provides a major shock and, in turn, may produce evidence of obstacles that cannot be overcome. The following should be remembered concerning cohabitation:
- Marriage creates a legal binding of the couple
- Beyond a lease, there are no legal responsibilities in cohabitation
- Property accrued may contribute to marital property if divorce occurs
An important fact to remember is that cohabitation is not marriage. The pressures may be similar, but they are not the same. A couple needs to be prepared for the changes and responsibilities of married life, even if they have lived together for some time.
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If you and your spouse have decided that your marriage simply is not working because of unforeseen or irreconcilable problems, divorce may be the best available option. To learn more about divorce from a legal standpoint, contact the Austin divorce attorneys of Slater Kennon, LLP, at 512-472-2431.