It is common for people to remain unmarried while living together and a family attorney can help provide the legal security these couples need. Many people prefer to live together without legally becoming married, whether it’s for financial, personal, family, or religious reasons. The challenge is that these couples often leave themselves open to legal conflict because they don’t have the same legal protections that married couples do.
This was a particular challenge for same-sex couples that wanted to become married, but weren’t allowed to. In 2011, the New York legislature made same-sex marriage legal in the state of New York and now these couples have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples that choose to get married.
Many people think that a family attorney only works with people who are married or are getting a divorce. This is not the case. A family attorney works with all types of family units and the individual’s lifestyle defines what makes up their family. New York attorney, Paul R. Berko works with unmarried couples to ensure that their legal rights are protected.
Here are some of the ways a lawyer can help unmarried couples:
- Adoption. Many couples would like to have children and consider adoption as a means for doing so. If you are unmarried there should be agreements in place that protect the rights of both of you as equal parents under the law.
- Accounts. Couples that do not become married have no legal right to each other’s assets upon illness or death. A family attorney can ensure that the other partner has the access they need to pay for medical bills or expenses in the event of an accident and receive the account funds if the other partner dies. Protecting your partner financially is an important step to take before you become ill.
- Assets. Homes, cars, boats, and other hard assets typically have a title associated with them. This is a legal document that spells out who owns that asset. Titling them correctly is essential for protecting the rights of both partners. If it is done incorrectly and one partner dies their ownership will not automatically transfer to the surviving partner. Instead, it could go through probate where other family members have the opportunity to fight for their share of the assets. This can make a stressful time even worse and can be completely avoided by working with a family attorney.
- Financial Considerations. Many unmarried couples still want to have agreements in place that spell out what would happen if they split up. Similar to a prenuptial agreement this can outline who would keep possession of which assets and if one partner would be responsible for paying the other a monthly alimony payment. Child support can be settled in court or included in this document.
Unmarried couples have to work harder in order to make sure that their rights are protected. This requires the help of a skilled family attorney. To learn how The Law Office of Paul R. Berko can help you call, (516) 746-4211.
