Because California is not a state that recognizes common law marriage, your girlfriend has no rights to your assets by virtue of the relationship that you had. Any assets that you own individually are yours and not subject to claim by her unless she has some other cause of action against you, such as in contract.
Unmarried couples who live together in California fall under the legal umbrella of 'cohabitation. ' A new law in California allows cohabitating romantic couples to file to be known as a domestic partnership. While this law affords couples similar rights to married couples, the law is only recognized within California.
Domestic Partners are two adults who have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring.
Absence of Common Law Marriage in California The concept of a couple being considered legally married after living together for a specific period doesn't apply here. Despite popular belief, even if you've been cohabiting for 7 years or more, it won't automatically grant you the status of a married couple.
The two persons are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other in this state. Both persons are at least 18 years of age, except as provided in California Family Code section 297.1. Both persons are capable of consenting to the Domestic Partnership.
Acceptable documentary proof includes a copy of a State of California Declaration of Domestic Partnership/Certificate of Registration, a copy of an affidavit or declaration of domestic partnership filed with another City of Los Angeles Department, a formal letter of acknowledgement from another City Department, or ...
There is not a specific period that you must live together before you can establish a domestic partnership in California. Any couple who meets the eligibility criteria may register a domestic partnership to receive many of the same rights as married couples.
There is no common law marriage in the State of California. This means that if two people live together, there is no statute that confers the rights of married couples upon them. There are situations also where a couple believes that they are married, but they are in fact, not.
No, relationships are not informal contracts with explicit terms. If you're just dating or living with another, it is respectful and courteous to treat them the way you would want to be treated--or even the way they wish to be treated. But it's not something that you're committing to. That's what marriage is for.