Cohabitation is living together and having a sexual relationship without being married.
In Alabama, cohabitation refers to a situation where two individuals live together and engage in a sexual relationship without being legally married. Alabama law does not recognize common-law marriages entered into after January 1, 2017. This means that couples who begin cohabitating after this date do not acquire the legal rights and responsibilities that married couples have, regardless of the length of their relationship. However, for common-law marriages established before January 1, 2017, Alabama does recognize these unions as valid, and the couples are afforded the same legal treatment as those who have obtained a marriage license. It is important to note that while cohabitation itself is not illegal in Alabama, it does not confer any legal status upon the relationship. Couples living together may choose to create legal agreements to outline the handling of financial matters, property, and other issues to protect their individual rights.