– It was important for us to know that we had each other, no matter what. For me, it was not enough to just be roommates. Nine months have passed since Helena Aurora C. Bergmann gave her yes to her boyfriend Fredrik Bergmann in Sotra west of Bergen. The couple in their late 20s is going against a growing trend in which fewer and fewer people choose to marry. – I wanted to be sure that we were together about everything, especially if we had children, says Helena. Helena and Fredrik were roommates before they decided to get married. Photo: Benjamin Dyrdal The difference between marriage and cohabitation Fewer and fewer Norwegians do what Helena and Fredrik do, according to recent figures from Statistics Norway (SSB). Far more than before are “just” roommates and drop a ring on their finger. But what is actually the difference between being married and being a cohabitant? news has asked a lawyer in Codex, Andreas Poulsson, who works in family law. – Many people are shocked by how few rights they have as cohabitants, he says and highlights three important points. Finances – There are a number of financial differences between being married and cohabiting, explains Poulsson. If you are married, basically everything you earn and acquire after you give your yes is divided in half. Andreas Poulsson works with various cases where families need a lawyer. This may apply, for example, to inheritance or cohabitation. Photo: Codax If you live together, it’s more “every man for himself”. What one earns is one’s own, and the partner is not entitled to half if they leave each other. – Here is a typical example where the woman is at home with the children for a period, while the man works. If you are only living together, the woman does not automatically have the right to what the man has lit. Inheritance Sambuars also have much worse inheritance rights if someone dies than spouses have, explains Poulsson. – Cohabitants without children are not entitled to anything if the partner dies. It may come as a shock to many. If a cohabiting couple has children, they are entitled to part of the inheritance, but no more than four times the basic amount, which is now around NOK 111,000. In other words, cohabitants with children cannot inherit more than NOK 444,000. The rest goes to children and any parents and siblings. For spouses, it is the other way around. One inherits at least four times the basic amount, if there is that much to inherit. If there is more, it is divided between partners and any children, parents and siblings. Cohabitants: Make clear agreements The limits of what rights you have as cohabitants are not as clear as when you are married, says Poulsson. If you and your partner break up, or if your partner dies, it is much more difficult to know what one is entitled to or not. – There are many people who get a negative surprise when the cohabitation breaks up, because you think you have better rights than you do. Therefore, the lawyer recommends writing a contract when you enter into a cohabitation, so that you agree on what happens if you leave each other or someone dies. – Would you recommend couples who live together to just get married, because it’s easier? – Hehe, it almost has to be up to the individual to decide. But I would recommend being aware of the situation you are in and having it clarified with your partner.
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– Many people are shocked by how few rights you have as cohabitants – news Vestland
