The complete guide

Cohabitation rights in South Africa

South Africa has no common-law marriage, so living together gives you no automatic rights, however long it has been. The good news is that protecting each other is simpler than most couples think. Everything you need is below, in plain English, with every claim traced to the actual law.

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Is there common-law marriage in SA?

No. Why living together gives you no automatic rights, and the myth that costs couples dearly.

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Customary marriage not registered?

Did lobola but never registered? You are still married, unlike cohabitation. What that means for your rights.

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Protect yourselves

Cohabitation agreements

The cheapest, most effective protection. What it covers, what it costs, DIY vs attorney.

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Buying a house together

How a joint bond works, the liability nobody warns you about, and how to protect each other.

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If you split up

The house is in my partner’s name

Your rights when the deed has only their name on it, and the universal-partnership route.

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Can I claim maintenance from my ex?

No automatic alimony for unmarried couples, but a 2026 case cracked the door open. The honest picture.

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If someone dies

Inheritance & dying without a will

What you can inherit as a surviving partner since the 2024 law change, and why a will still matters.

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Claiming maintenance from an estate

Left out of the will or under-provided? The separate claim for ongoing support, step by step.

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Family, health & immigration

Unmarried father’s rights

When your rights are automatic, and exactly what to do if you’re being kept from your child.

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Add a partner to medical aid

Proof, cost, waiting periods, and the late-joiner penalty nobody warns you about.

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Life partner visa

How an unmarried partner stays in South Africa legally, and the proof checklist that gets it done.

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Not sure where to start?

Read the common-law marriage guide first. It explains why none of this is automatic, then points you to the right protection for your situation.

Start with the basics