Unmarried couples in the USA
Living together is not marriage, and US law treats it that way. No automatic inheritance, no automatic say in a hospital, no automatic share of the house. The good news: a few documents fix almost all of it. Here is what protects you, in plain English, with every claim traced to the actual law.
The law, in plain English
What unmarried couples can and cannot do, with the statutes and cases behind every claim.
The documents that protect you
Wills, beneficiaries, powers of attorney, cohabitation agreements. What each one does and when you need it.
Honest and sourced
No fabricated claims. We cite primary sources and tell you when the answer depends on your state.
Estate & inheritance
Estate-planning checklist for unmarried couples
The documents that protect your partner. Unmarried partners inherit nothing by default. Here is the fix.
Read guideYour partner died without a will. What now?
What an unmarried partner can and cannot claim, the first steps, and how intestacy leaves you out.
Read guideNaming your partner as beneficiary (401k, IRA, life)
The forms that override your will, the spousal-consent trap, and the 10-year inherited-account rule.
Read guideWill vs living trust for unmarried couples
Which one you actually need, the probate-and-privacy trade-off, and why a joint trust is usually wrong.
Read guideYour home
Taxes & kids
Married vs unmarried: the real tax differences
The penalty, the bonus, the SALT and estate gaps, and where not marrying actually costs you.
Read guideWho claims the child on taxes?
The tie-breaker rules for unmarried parents, head of household, and Form 8332.
Read guideHow to establish paternity (unmarried parents)
The acknowledgment form, the 60-day rule, when you need a court order, and why it matters.
Read guideHealthcare & decisions
Moving in, agreements & breaking up
The legal checklist before moving in together
Lease, beneficiaries, a cohabitation agreement, and the money talk, before you unpack.
Read guideWhat a cohabitation agreement costs (and includes)
DIY vs attorney pricing, and what the agreement must contain to actually hold up.
Read guideWho gets the dog or pet in a breakup?
Pets are property by default, plus the states that now weigh the animal’s best interest.
Read guideWho keeps the engagement ring if the wedding is off?
The conditional-gift rule, why who called it off matters, and how it changes state by state.
Read guideMore US guides are publishing regularly. Check back, or get one email when we add them.