If you were involved in a committed, long-term relationship and you and your significant other decide to go your separate ways, you may have financial responsibilities to settle first. Because many of these characteristics are subjective, the court will examine the big picture in your case to see how each of these factors adds up. Unlike the dissolution of a marriage, the end of a committed intimate relationship does not warrant financial recourse.
In other words, when you breakup, you cannot obtain financial compensation, like alimony or spousal support. Because your union was not legally binding, the court cannot enforce any type of alimony-like payments. If the court determines that you shared a committed relationship, the court may oversee the division of jointly owned assets and debts after your break-up. In other words, the court can assess your debts, funds, properties, and other assets to determine a fair method of division.
As in a divorce, the court will abide by equitable distribution laws, which means your property will be divided in a way that is fair and equitable, but not necessarily equal. If you were involved in an intimate committed relationship, our firm is prepared to help you seek equitable distribution of your shared properties. Our firm can work with you to ensure we protect your assets and represent your interests in court.
Contact McKinley Irvin to schedule a consultation with a family law attorney. Couples in committed relationships often exhibit the following characteristics: The couple had children together The couple involved one another on important documents, such as wills, medical directives, etc.
The couple lived together The couple pooled their assets purchased a house together, joined bank accounts, etc. The couple was in a relationship for a significant length of time Because many of these characteristics are subjective, the court will examine the big picture in your case to see how each of these factors adds up.
