Ing to state statute, in Georgia, cohabitation is defined as “dwelling together continuously and openly in a meretricious relationship with another person, regardless of the sex of the other person”. Meretricious is a fancy-sounding legal term for “having sex”.
The contract in a common law marriage is the agreement of the parties to be husband and wife and that they hold themselves out to be married in the public's eye. Consummation of the marriage refers to cohabitation, but there is no set length of time that the couple must live together.
If both spouses are willing to collaborate on their divorce, it often takes between six months and one year to resolve. If one or both spouses are contentious, it can take several years to resolve a divorce.
To prove cohabitation, you will need to show that your ex is residing with another person, sharing household expenses and that they are holding themselves out as a couple. While the proof of sexual activity can be difficult to prove, it will generally be presumed when the other factors are proven.
As the landscape of relationships continues to evolve, understanding the legal implications of cohabitation becomes increasingly important. While cohabiting couples in Georgia do not enjoy the same legal protections as married couples, they can still take steps to safeguard their rights.
Cohabitation in Georgia In Georiga, cohabitation occurs when two parties openly live together on a continuous basis, regardless of the sex of either party. But Georgia family courts don't recognize cohabitation agreements.
In general, if you are a party to a family law case, such as divorce, custody, child support, alimony or modification case, you will need to complete a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit (sometimes referred to as a “DRFA” or “Financial Affidavit”).
In Georgia, when an unmarried couple who own property together breaks up, the division of property is not automatically determined by law. Instead, the couple will need to come to an agreement on how to divide their assets and debts.
Furthermore, you need to prove that your ex-spouse and their current partner have an intimate relationship. The statute also requires that they live together continuously. If they only have periodic contact, it does not meet the criteria for cohabitation.