More couples are choosing to live together without getting married, but domestic partnerships and cohabitation often lack the automatic legal protections marriage provides. This leaves partners vulnerable in areas like property rights, healthcare decisions, inheritance, and financial security. This course provides a step-by-step roadmap for protecting your rights in a domestic partnership or cohabitation arrangement. Learners will gain practical tools for drafting agreements, navigating state recognition laws, handling shared finances, securing parental rights, and preventing future disputes. By the end, students will be able to live together with confidence, clarity, and legal safeguards.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand the difference between marriage, domestic partnerships, and cohabitation.
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Recognize what legal protections exist for unmarried couples under state law.
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Draft enforceable agreements to protect property, finances, and responsibilities.
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Assert healthcare, inheritance, and decision-making rights.
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Secure parental rights for children in non-marital households.
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Navigate breakups or separations with clear exit strategies.
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Plan proactively to minimize disputes and protect long-term interests.
