Many pet-owning couples ‘may include their animal in a cohabitation agreement’ Nearly half of unmarried people who live with their partner and share a pet with them would consider including their animal in a cohabitation agreement in the event they split up, a survey has found.
Cohabiting couples who do not have such an agreement may face complications if the relationship ends, in terms of splitting assets, property and responsibilities like pets, according to Co-op Legal Services, which commissioned the research ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Some 44% of cohabiting couples who share pets with their partners would consider including their pets in a cohabitation agreement.
While the primary focus of a cohabitation agreement is typically on property and financial assets, the survey also revealed some other items that couples would want to safeguard.
Ben Evans, lead family law solicitor at Co-op Legal Services, said: “As more people opt for cohabitation instead of marriage, these agreements will continue to gain in popularity.”.
