Cohabiting is often thought of as a test of sorts—a chance to see if a relationship will work long-term before deciding to walk down the aisle. But even if a couple chooses not to take the plunge, entering Splitsville isn't any easier. Cohabiting breakups echo with that tough little d-word.
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, currently involved in a bitter three-year divorce battle with his childhood sweetheart wife, Siohvaughn Funches Wade, now faces another obstacle in his custody fight with Siohvaughn: She's suing his new girlfriend, actress Gabrielle Union. Siohvaughn's lawsuit accuses Gabrielle of inflicting "emotional distress" on Dwyane and Siohvaughn's two sons.
Dr. Gail Saltz, relationship columnist for the Today Show, recently received a letter from a woman who is on the path to marriage and wants her husband-to-be to sign a prenuptial agreement. A lot of what she says is excellent — reassuring, clear and logical. But we can't help but wonder: Are reassurance and logic enough to persuade someone to sign a prenup who normally wouldn't even consider the idea? We're not entirely sure. Below are some of Saltz's key points on talking about prenups and our thoughts on them.
If moving in together is a conscious objection to having the government involved in your union, the thought of contracts and judges may be particularly irksome. But for better or worse, the institution of marriage has laws that govern things like property rights if the couple splits. No matter how committed your bodies, hearts and souls are, if you're living together as romantic partners, to the State, you might as well be roommates. In divorce proceedings, the court is apt to assume equal entitlement—or liability—for both partners, but if you separate having never signed a marriage certificate or a contract, it doesn't matter which assets you mixed or didn't, it's one person's word against another.
