Cohabitation agreements can help unmarried partners or cohabiting couples set the rules for their living arrangements. Moreover, cohabitation agreements aren't exclusive to couples with sexual relations. They can also serve as enforceable contracts between roommates.
Nothing happens, you are separated but legally you are married. Each partner can continue to live their lives however they will, but they cannot legally marry again.
Perhaps the most common way for unmarried couples to take title to real property is as "tenants in common." Unlike a joint tenancy, a tenant in common has no automatic right to inherit the property when the other partner dies.
Washington State considers unmarried couples' properties as separate, so each party retains their own property unless a written agreement exists or until comingling in a community manner is shown.
Joint Tenancy. If you take title as joint tenants, you share equal ownership of the property and each of you has the right to use the entire property. If one joint tenant dies, the other automatically becomes the owner of the deceased person's share, even if there's a will to the contrary.
In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, typically it would be a 50-50 split. The other party would be forced to buy out your equity in the property and refinance the mortgage so that it is in her name, or the property would have to be sold and you'd split the proceeds.
As long as you and your ex can agree on how to divide up your assets, there is no need to involve lawyers or the court system. Even if children are involved, in most states you have the opportunity to separate in private, ing to whatever arrangements the two of you agree on.
Protection to Put in Place #1 A Cohabitation Agreement. #2 A Pre-Nuptial Agreement. #3 Make Wills. #4 Take Out Life Insurance. #5 Check Your Pensions. #6 Consider How You Own Your Property.