Property rights regarding cohabitation are not specifically defined in Colorado as they are in Colorado divorce cases, thereby relegating parties to traditional civil remedies. Such remedies are not specifically designed to address property jointly acquired during cohabitation. It may therefore quite helpful for partners to enter into written cohabitation agreements.
While the Civil Unions have become law in Colorado, those who do not enter into a a civil union may still wish to address some legal aspects of their relationship. Some possibilities to consider include:
- Cohabitation agreements
- Domestic partnership agreements
- Allocation of parental responsibilities between same sex partners
- Colorado’s designated beneficiary
- Getting married in one of the six states allowing for same sex marriage or the District of Columbia or in another country that allows for same sex marriage
- Protecting children through a second parent adoption