Unmarried couples face challenges when splitting up

On Behalf of | Nov 30, 2018 | Family Law, Firm News

When you live with your boyfriend or girlfriend, you will probably amass assets and debts as a couple. Have you thought about what is going to happen to those if you break up? The fact here is that it can be very contentious to work through who is going to get what if your relationship ends. We are here to help you work through the process of dividing everything and making sure you aren’t getting taken advantage of during the split. While you don’t have to go through a divorce, the logistics of ending a live-in relationship can be challenging.

Before you start to evaluate what you think needs to happen, you should get an accurate account of what needs to be split. Think beyond just the larger assets. If you bought living room furniture together, you have to decide who keeps it. Ideally, each person will walk away with the things they brought into the relationship. For example, if you’ve been using your boyfriend’s bed in the apartment you share, he will probably take that with him if he leaves.

This brings up another point to think about. How will you handle accounts you are both on currently? These will have to be taken over by one person. If you are both on a lease for a home, you will have to find out if you can have this changed to only one person’s name. You also need to change utility accounts and others over to the appropriate person.

We know this is a big transition for you, especially if you have been in the relationship for a while. We can work with you to find out what options you have and to stand up for your rights during the split.