Cohabitation is living together and having a sexual relationship without being married.
In New Hampshire, cohabitation refers to a couple living together in a long-term relationship that resembles a marriage, but without the legal formalities of marriage. New Hampshire law does not provide the same legal rights and responsibilities to cohabiting couples as it does to married couples. This means that cohabitants do not automatically have property rights, spousal support rights, or inheritance rights that a married spouse would have under state law. However, cohabiting partners in New Hampshire can enter into cohabitation agreements to outline the financial and property rights of each partner. Such agreements can help protect each person's interests in the event the relationship ends, but they must be carefully crafted to be enforceable. It's important for individuals in cohabiting relationships to consider creating legal documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to ensure their wishes are respected, as the state will not automatically recognize their partner as having the rights typically afforded to a spouse.