Upward Trend in Cohabiters Who Seek Legal Protection

RENO, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / February 19, 2026 / Modern love may be moving away from the altar, as in 2025, fewer than half (47%) of U.S. households consist of a married couple, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This marks a meaningful change in American family structure compared to half a century ago, when the proportion of U.S. households that were married was at nearly two-thirds (66%).

Along with this rising trend, millions of cohabiters may not realize they have access to a legal means of protecting their finances in a way that's similar to the protections of marriage.

A cohabitation agreement, like a prenuptial agreement, is a type of insurance. It acts as a vital legal safeguard, functioning like a prenuptial agreement but tailored for those who choose to live together without getting married. This kind of document can benefit unmarried couples, people who live together for non-romantic reasons like elder care, or even friendship-based cohabiters.

Common advantages of a cohabitation agreement include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Asset & Property Division: How assets and property would be divided should separation occur.

• Financial Management: How the cohabiters deal with joint bank accounts and shared property.

• Debt Liability: Responsibility for debts made before or incurred in the course of the cohabitation.

• Business Protection: Preventing a cohabiter from claiming ownership over a business they do not own.

• Medical & Estate Planning: Making sure a cohabiter has the right to make third-party medical decisions or inherit property, if desired.

"Legal protection shouldn't be reserved for those with a wedding date. These agreements provide essential clarity and security for anyone merging their lives and finances, regardless of marital status," says Ken LaMance, LegalMatch's General Counsel.

Unmarried couples can avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation by entering into well-drafted documents. Websites such as LegalMatch.com, the nation's first-ever client-attorney matching service, can help consumers find the right attorney for their legal needs. Cohabiters can simply visit the platform, submit details, and receive free matches with prenup attorneys with the expertise to handle all kinds of cohabitation agreements.

Additionally, LegalMatch contains a wide-ranging Online Law Library section, which provides in-depth guides on cohabitation laws for people who prefer to evaluate their own circumstances.

About LegalMatch.com

LegalMatch is the nation's oldest and largest online legal lead-generation service. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, LegalMatch helps people find the right lawyer and helps attorneys find new clients. LegalMatch's service is free to individuals and small businesses looking for legal help. For more information about LegalMatch, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact

Ken LaMance
press@legalmatch.com
(415) 946-0856

SOURCE: LegalMatch.com