Unmarried Couples

Legal Guidance for Unmarried Partners & Co-Parents

Many couples build families, purchase property, raise children, and share financial responsibilities without marrying. While these relationships are legally valid, they do not carry the same automatic legal protections as marriage. When disputes arise — or when proactive planning is needed — experienced legal counsel can help protect financial and parental rights.

Bean, Kinney & Korman represents unmarried couples throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. region in matters involving property division, custody, child support, cohabitation agreements, and related disputes. We provide thoughtful guidance designed to clarify rights and prevent future conflict.

Our approach focuses on stability, fairness, and long-term planning.

Legal Services for Unmarried Couples

Custody & Parental Rights

Establishment of legal parentage
Custody and parenting plans
Visitation/Time-sharing arrangements
Modification/Enforcement of custody agreements and orders
Third-party custody disputes, including time with grandparents

Parental rights are not automatic in all situations and may require formal legal recognition.

Child Support

Establishment of support obligations
Income analysis and guideline application
Modification of support agreements and orders
Enforcement and contempt proceedings

Support obligations for children apply regardless of marital status.

Property & Asset Disputes

Establishing agreements regarding property ownership
Addressing real estate ownership disputes
Division of jointly titled property, including Partition actions
Financial contributions and reimbursement claims

Unmarried couples do not have automatic equitable distribution rights, making clear agreements critical.

Cohabitation Agreements

Property ownership terms
Financial responsibility allocations
Debt division planning
Asset protection agreements
Dispute resolution provisions

Proactive agreements can provide clarity and avoid costly litigation.

Estate & Inheritance Planning

Coordination with estate planning documents
Beneficiary designation review (including life insurance and retirement accounts)
Healthcare decision-making authority
Durable powers of attorney

Unmarried partners should proactively plan to secure inheritance and medical rights. The estate laws that apply to married individuals do not apply to unmarried couples.

Who We Represent

Our Unmarried Couples practice serves:

Cohabiting partners
Parents who were never married
Couples purchasing property together
Business-owning partners
Military families
Individuals seeking proactive cohabitation planning

We tailor our strategy to each couple’s structure and financial goals.

Legal Considerations for Unmarried Couples

Unmarried couples should understand that:

Property division rules differ from divorce law
Parental rights may require legal establishment
Cohabitation does not create automatic inheritance rights
Written agreements significantly reduce uncertainty

Early legal planning can prevent complex disputes later, which will save money in the future, and preserve rights in assets.

Unmarried Couples FAQs

Do unmarried couples have the same rights as married couples?

No. Marriage provides automatic legal protections in property division, inheritance, and spousal support that unmarried couples do not receive without formal agreements.

How is property divided if unmarried partners separate?

Property division typically depends on title ownership, contractual agreements, and contribution evidence — not equitable distribution statutes which apply to married couples.

Do unmarried parents have custody rights?

Both parents may have custody rights, but legal parentage must sometimes be formally established, especially in non-biological parent situations.

Is a cohabitation agreement legally enforceable?

Yes. Properly drafted cohabitation agreements can define property rights and financial responsibilities and are generally enforceable under contract law.