Create a bespoke document in minutes,聽or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership聽of your information
Cohabitation Agreement
I need a cohabitation agreement that outlines the financial responsibilities and property rights of both parties living together in Hong Kong, including provisions for shared expenses, individual assets, and a process for dispute resolution. The agreement should also address the division of property and financial obligations in the event of separation.
What is a Cohabitation Agreement?
A Cohabitation Agreement is a legal contract between unmarried partners who live together, setting clear terms for their shared life and property. It lets couples specify how they'll handle finances, share assets, and manage household responsibilities while maintaining their individual rights under Hong Kong law.
These agreements have become increasingly important in Hong Kong as more couples choose to live together before or instead of marriage. The document protects both parties' interests if they separate, covering everything from rent payments and property ownership to pet custody and debt responsibilities. While not as formally regulated as marriage contracts, Hong Kong courts generally respect these agreements when properly drafted.
When should you use a Cohabitation Agreement?
Get a Cohabitation Agreement in place before moving in together锟斤拷锟絠deally during the excitement of apartment hunting or planning your shared future. This timing helps you have important conversations while both partners are positive and cooperative, rather than waiting until conflicts arise.
The agreement becomes especially valuable when buying property together, combining finances, or when one partner makes significant career sacrifices to support the relationship. Hong Kong's property market makes this particularly important锟斤拷锟絧utting clear terms in writing helps protect both partners' investments and financial contributions to the household, from renovation costs to mortgage payments.
What are the different types of Cohabitation Agreement?
- Cohabitation Property Agreement: Focuses specifically on shared property rights, mortgage payments, and asset division
- Cohabitation Agreement For Married Couples: Addresses living arrangements and financial responsibilities for already-married couples maintaining separate residences
- Separation Agreement And Release: Details the terms for ending cohabitation, including property division and mutual release of claims
- Prenuptial Agreement For Second Marriage: Combines cohabitation terms with pre-marriage asset protection for previously married partners
- Coexistence Agreement: Covers shared living arrangements with broader terms beyond property, including household duties and lifestyle expectations
Who should typically use a Cohabitation Agreement?
- Unmarried Couples: The primary users, including both same-sex and heterosexual partners planning to live together in Hong Kong
- Family Law Solicitors: Draft and review agreements to ensure they're legally sound and protect both parties' interests
- Property Owners: Landlords or partners who own property need clear terms about shared living spaces and financial obligations
- Financial Advisors: Help structure agreements to address tax implications and asset protection strategies
- Estate Planners: Incorporate cohabitation terms into broader wealth management and inheritance planning
- Mediators: Help resolve disputes using the agreement's terms if relationship difficulties arise
How do you write a Cohabitation Agreement?
- Asset Inventory: List all property, investments, and valuable items each partner owns separately or jointly
- Financial Details: Gather income information, bank accounts, debts, and regular expenses for both partners
- Living Arrangements: Document the address, rental/ownership status, and how housing costs will be shared
- Contribution Plans: Outline how routine expenses and unexpected costs will be divided
- Future Provisions: Consider plans for property purchases, pets, and potential relationship changes
- Personal Goals: Note each partner's career plans and lifestyle expectations
- Document Generation: Use our platform to create a legally-sound agreement that includes all these elements
What should be included in a Cohabitation Agreement?
- Identity Details: Full legal names, HKID numbers, and current addresses of both partners
- Property Rights: Clear terms about ownership, division, and management of shared and individual assets
- Financial Obligations: Detailed breakdown of expense sharing, bill payments, and debt responsibilities
- Living Arrangements: Specific terms about residence, maintenance costs, and property improvements
- Relationship Status: Statement confirming unmarried status and intention to cohabitate
- Dispute Resolution: Process for handling disagreements under Hong Kong jurisdiction
- Termination Clauses: Conditions and procedures for ending the agreement
- Execution Requirements: Signatures, witness details, and dating of the document
What's the difference between a Cohabitation Agreement and an Asset Purchase Agreement?
A Cohabitation Agreement differs significantly from an Asset Purchase Agreement in both purpose and scope, though both deal with property rights. While they may overlap when partners buy property together, their fundamental functions are quite different.
- Legal Framework: Cohabitation Agreements primarily govern personal relationships and shared living arrangements, while Asset Purchase Agreements focus purely on commercial property transactions
- Duration: Cohabitation Agreements remain active throughout the relationship, whereas Asset Purchase Agreements typically conclude once the transaction is complete
- Scope of Rights: Cohabitation Agreements cover daily living expenses, property usage, and relationship obligations; Asset Purchase Agreements strictly address ownership transfer and payment terms
- Parties Involved: Cohabitation Agreements are between domestic partners, while Asset Purchase Agreements typically involve buyers and sellers in a business context
- Enforcement Context: Hong Kong courts handle Cohabitation Agreements under family law principles, but treat Asset Purchase Agreements as commercial contracts
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
骋别苍颈别鈥檚 Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here鈥檚 how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; 骋别苍颈别鈥檚 AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a 拢1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.