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E-mail: Sheryl@srrentzlaw.com

Montgomery County PA Domestic Partnership Property Rights Lawyer

The state of Pennsylvania does not recognize domestic partnerships from a legal perspective. As a result, there are no laws on our books to govern what happens when same-sex couples split up. If you are currently in a relationship with a domestic partner, now is a good time to contact a Montgomery County PA attorney to draw up an agreement that spells out exactly how you would like to manage your property in the event your relationship ends. You may someday find yourself facing the same issues couples in legally recognized marriages do, including how to handle property acquired before or during your relationship. Unfortunately, unlike married couples, there are no established guidelines for dividing or disposing of these assets unless you have a signed contract in place.

Attorneys with experience drawing up pre-nuptial contracts like Sheryl R. Rentz can also draft contractual agreements between domestic partners. These agreements are as formal and binding as any standard pre-nuptial agreement and can be used to spell out the division of property between the partners should the relationship end. A contractual agreement can detail the following:

• Who retains ownership of your home or if you must sell it and share the proceeds
• Whether partners retain any right of inheritance
• Division of jointly-owned assets
• Distribution of bank accounts, stocks and other financial concerns
• Division of assets and debts between former partners

If you and your partner do not have a contract specifying how to handle the division of property in the event of a break-up, you are facing a difficult and complicated situation. Unless you are able to come up with a way to divide your assets amicably, or choose to leave with only what you entered into the relationship owning, you may find yourself embroiled in a lengthy battle without any clear legal directives and few precedents.

The best thing to do if you are just entering into a domestic partnership is to contact an experienced Montgomery County PA family law firm like the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, PC. We will use our knowledge of Pennsylvania's premarital and co-habitation agreement laws to draft a clear and solid agreement that addresses the way in which to handle your property in the event of a split. Even if your relationship is already ending and you do not have an agreement in place, please contact us for advice and guidance on how to protect your property and your rights.