Module 2 Assignment

Married couples enjoy various benefits. One of the main legal benefits of marriage relates
to tax reduction. Married couples are able to file joint tax returns. The IRS gives tax breaks to
individuals who file joint tax returns. Individuals who file joint tax returns are able to receive
higher income thresholds for certain categories of tax as well as deductions. Marriage also gives
one the opportunity to access certain government benefits. Government benefits are available to
married couples, including social security, Medicare, and disability benefits (Meier, 2019).
Further marriage helps one to obtain insurance benefits that are extended by a spouse’s employer.
If one spouse dies, the other spouse is entitled to workers’ compensation as well as retirement
benefits attributed to the deceased spouse.
Common-law marriage is a framework where the law recognizes marriages without the
partners having formally recorded their union with a state or religious registry. It departs from
civil or religious marriage but is characterized by partners agreeing to live together. Its origin can
be traced to ancient Rome, where people agreed to live together with no documentation required
to form a marriage. Common-law marriage is formed when a couple cohabits and represents
themselves to others as being married. The couple must live together for a certain period of time
and must have reached the legal capacity to marry. The two must also have the intention to get
married and must present themselves to friends and family as being a married couple.
In Marvin v. Marvin, unmarried couples have various remedies, including suing for a
breach of an express contract. A suit can be used to enforce agreements that couples may have
entered into. Couples can also enforce implied contracts that result from the behavior and
conduct of the parties. \

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Cohabitation Agreement

 
UNREGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP COHABITATION AGREEMENT
            This Agreement is made on _____ [date] between _____ []
(First Party)  and _____ (Second Party).
Recitals
a. The parties non-marital cohabitation begins ——-
b. The parties to this agreement are unregistered domestic partners who wish to cohabit
together. The first party has agreed to financially support the second party. On the other
hand, the second party agrees to render services in the form of domestic chores.
c. The cohabitants have agreed to make a full and complete disclosure of their financials,
including assets, earnings, and liabilities.
d. The parties wish to set out their respective rights and liabilities that may result from this
relationship.
e. In view of the cohabitation agreement as well as mutual promises, the parties agree as
follows:
Sharing of Earnings, Services, and Property
a. The first party shall render services to their employer and generate earnings from their
business. The income shall be sufficient to guarantee a standard of living that satisfies the
expectations of both parties.
b. The second party shall work as a housekeeper and will assume domestic chores.

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c. The parties agree to share equally any income that may result from a joint undertaking.
d. Any property acquired in the course of the cohabitation shall be held jointly. The parties
reserve the rights to property acquired before the cohabitation, which has been duly
declared.
e. This agreement shall be nullified in the event of a marriage.
f. In case of separation, the parties shall divide the property in accordance with this
agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of ____
Executed at _______[city], State [or Commonwealth] of
_____, on ________[date].

______ [signature]
_____ [typed name]
FIRST PARTY
_____ [signature]
_____ [typed name]
SECOND PARTY

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References

Meier, L. (2019). Marriage: The Surest Way to Entitlements. ACTEC LJ, 45, 277.