Answer: If unmarried: Arizona does not recognize “common law” marriage (A.R.S. 25-111), so there are no formal legal rules for the division of property when an unmarried couple breaks up, regardless of whether or not they lived together.
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.
Property acquired prior to marriage is separate and belongs to the spouse who acquired it. Property acquired during marriage is presumed to belong to the community estate except if acquired by inheritance or gift, or by exchange for other separate property.
Because unmarried cohabitation does not create a marital estate in Arizona, community property principles do not apply when unmarried couples separate. Instead, all property acquired by either party before or during the relationship is considered separate property belonging solely to the person who acquired it.
Conformity with Arizona Law: As per Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 25-213, cohabitation agreements are legally recognized and enforceable in Arizona. The law regards these agreements as valid contracts. Mutual Consent: Both parties must willingly agree to the terms outlined in the cohabitation agreement.
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.
AZ is a community property state. That means any property acquired before the marriage is considered the separate property of that spouse. Any property acquired during the marriage is community property and subject to the 50/50 split.
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.
Although Arizona laws do not allow child custody decisions to control who is awarded the house when both parents want to keep the house after an Arizona divorce, the reality is a judge is more likely to award the home to the parent who has a majority of time with the children in his or her care.