Free Cohabitation Agreement Template: Protect Your Rights in Shared Living
Updated 17 October 2025
This Cohabitation Agreement is designed for two individuals who intend to live together and wish to define their financial and property rights and responsibilities. It outlines how income, assets, and liabilities will be managed during their cohabitation, including provisions for separate and jointly acquired property, shared expenditures, and conditions for termination.
COHABITATION AGREEMENT
This Cohabitation Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement," is entered into between [first party], hereinafter the "First Party," having a permanent address at [address of first party] and [address of second party], hereinafter the "Second Party," having a permanent address at [address of second party], collectively called the "Parties”.
This Agreement is entered into on [effective date].
WHEREAS, the parties intend to define their respective rights and responsibilities concerning each other's income and property, including any income and property acquired either individually or jointly during cohabitation.
THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
The parties agree that they agree to cohabit exclusively under the terms of this Agreement, starting from the effective date of this Agreement.
Any dispute arising out of this Agreement should be governed according to the laws of [governed law].
The parties have fully disclosed all their financial assets and liabilities to each other.
Both parties are required to use their legal names in everyday situations. However, they may use a different name or alias under two circumstances:
When it is necessary for the purposes of this Agreement, or
When both parties have signed a written notice granting permission to use a different name or alias.
Except otherwise, the parties forgo the following rights:
Neither party would claim in estate of the other party upon their death
Claim in an increase the value of property during the cohabitation
Neither party would claim the other party's pension or profit
Neither party would claim the existence of marriage under common law
Any earnings, including salary, income, and commission earned through personnel skills, should remain the party's separate property.
Any property or financial asset acquired jointly by the parties shall be owned jointly.
Any gift, or material gain in similar nature shall remain the property of the party receiving it.
The parties shall open a joint checking account for the purpose of sharing everyday expenditures.
All household expenditures and chores shall be shared equally by both parties.
The parties agree to take a joint lease on their residence located at [living address]
This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement, and any amendment or modification to this Agreement should be made in writing and with the consent of both parties.
The Agreement can be terminated in the following ways:
Either party may give thirty-calendar day notice to the other party, indicating the intention to terminate this Agreement.
The Agreement shall be deemed terminated if the parties cease to cohabit for a total of more than thirty consecutive calendar days.
Upon the legal marriage of the parties to each other.
In the event that any provision of this Agreement is found to be against any existing law, the Agreement shall cease to exist to that extent. The rest of the Agreement will remain in full force.
I have pursued the above Agreement and understand all the terms and conditions; I agree to the entire Agreement without any reservation and submit it for execution.
Signatures:
1st Party: Signature: Date:
2nd Party: Signature: Date:
About this template
What is this template?
Free Cohabitation Agreement Template: Protect Your Rights in Shared Living is a free, ready-to-use Contract law template you can open, customize, and download on GitLaw. It gives you a professionally structured starting point, so you never have to draft from a blank page. The wording is plain and modern, organized into clear sections that are easy to read, edit, and adapt to your own situation before you share or sign it.
When should you use it?
Reach for this Contract law template whenever you need a reliable agreement quickly and want to be sure the essentials are covered. It suits individuals, freelancers, startups, and established businesses alike. Instead of paying for a document drafted from scratch, you can start here, tailor the details to your arrangement, and have a polished draft ready in minutes. Always review the final wording against the laws that apply where you live or do business.
What's typically included?
A well-drafted Contract law usually sets out the parties involved, the scope of the agreement, and each side's rights and responsibilities. Expect sections covering key terms and definitions, how long the agreement lasts, how it can be ended, and what happens if something goes wrong. This template brings those building blocks together in a sensible order, so you can focus on the specifics rather than worrying about what to include. Open it to read the full document, then sign up to edit, negotiate, and e-sign it directly in GitLaw.