{"id":1761,"date":"2026-05-29T09:31:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T09:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.ellenslentze.nl\/?p=1761"},"modified":"2026-05-29T09:31:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T09:31:37","slug":"ongetrouwd-samenwonen-geregistreerd-partnerschap-samenlevingscontract-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ellenslentze.nl\/en\/ongetrouwd-samenwonen-geregistreerd-partnerschap-samenlevingscontract-of\/","title":{"rendered":"Living together unmarried: registered partnership, cohabitation agreement or\u2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\tNews and background\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tLiving together unmarried: registered partnership, cohabitation agreement or\u2026?\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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The Backer family is large. Grandma Cathrien and Grandpa Dirk are in their late seventies and recently married. They and the (grand)children from their respective families occasionally need the help of a notary. You can read about their recognisable situations here.<\/p>\n

Living together unmarried: registered partnership, cohabitation agreement or\u2026?<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re moving in together!\u2019 Karlijn cheered to her mother on the phone. After her divorce she had started dating, and before long she had bumped into a lovely man.
\n\u2018Congratulations, sweetheart!\u2019 Cathrien replied. \u2018How exciting. Do you already know how you\u2019ll arrange it formally later on?\u2019
\n\u2018Well, first just get used to each other for a while, I think. Then we\u2019ll see what comes next!\u2019<\/p>\n

Cathrien wasn\u2019t so sure about that. She told Dirk about Karlijn\u2019s plans. \u2018I understand that getting married is a step too far. But surely they have to make some kind of agreement?\u2019
\nDirk started googling and came to the conclusion that there are four ways of living together.
\n\u2018Haha, they call it living \u201cin sin\u201d when you haven\u2019t arranged anything. The second option is drawing up a cohabitation agreement. And the other two amount to the same thing: registered partnership or marriage.\u2019
\nIn 1998 the registered partnership was introduced for non-heterosexual couples. They then had the same rights as married partners. With the introduction of same-sex marriage it actually became superfluous.<\/p>\n

They went to talk to Karlijn. After all, the chosen form of living together has consequences in the event of death. Dirk: \u2018When you live together \u201cin sin\u201d or have a cohabitation agreement, you are not automatically each other\u2019s heir. With a registered partnership and marriage you are.\u2019
\nCathrien added: \u2018You can, however, stipulate in a cohabitation agreement that joint possessions go to the surviving partner. Because suppose you buy a house and furniture soon, but your boyfriend passes away. Without a cohabitation agreement, his family is the heir and not you. They could simply turn up on your doorstep to claim his half of your house and belongings. With a quick fix in the form of a cohabitation agreement you prevent that. Or by getting married, of course,\u2019 she said with a wink.<\/p>\n

Karlijn discussed it with her boyfriend. He had long since figured that a cohabitation agreement was a good idea. \u2018And if it clicks for long enough, we\u2019ll do a registered partnership, darling!\u2019 he had joked. \u2018Unless you really want to wear a white dress. Then I\u2019ll just ask you to marry me!\u2019<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t