Cohabitation Definition


Cohabitation Definition

According to the Free Legal dictionary by Farlex, the Cohabitation Definition is, “an arrangement where two people who are not married live together in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term or permanent basis. Cohabitation usually refers to unmarried couples who live together without formally registering their relation as a marriage.

Cohabitation Definition in Belgium

In Belgium, cohabitation is a framework for couples wishing to live together outside of marriage.  Technically, legal cohabitation in Belgium is the “state of living together of two people who have made a declaration under article 1476 of the Civil Code.”

The law has chosen the broadest possible definition for legal cohabitation. It could mean sexual partners, of any sexual orientation, or even family members.

The law offers a minimum regulation of legal cohabitation. It simply states that two adults who are not related by marriage or other legal cohabitation may be recognized as cohabitants. Thus, a brother and a sister, an unmarried couple, or a gay couple can make the declaration of legal cohabitation.

Belgian law does provide a definition of legal cohabitation. It also specifies the requirements for establishing the Declaration of Legal Cohabitation and the cohabitation laws and cohabitation rights that go along with it.

Couples decide to cohabit rather than marry for many different reasons. Some couples want to test out their compatibility while living together before marriage, or they may want to keep their single status for financial reasons.

In Belgium, many couples decide to declare legal cohabitation in order to apply for the Cohabitation Visa which allows an immigrating partner to legally live in Belgium with their partner based on their long-term relationship.

Read more and see if you meet the requirements of the Belgium Cohabitation Visa and learn how to apply for it step-by-step on our start here page.

 

 

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