What determines support obligations for unmarried cohabitants?

Support obligations for unmarried cohabitants primarily arise from the legal recognition of their relationship, which varies by jurisdiction. Many states do not recognize legal support obligations for unmarried couples in the same way they do for married couples. In such contexts, if the couple separates, they are typically not required by law to provide financial support to each other, as they have not entered into a marriage contract that includes such obligations. This absence of support obligations means that unless there is a specific agreement in place, or unless one party can show that they contributed significantly to the other’s financial support, the law generally does not mandate support payments.

When considering other options, it's important to note that state laws governing domestic partnerships (which may be an official status granting certain rights) can create obligations, but that only applies to registered domestic partnerships, not all unmarried cohabitants. Individual preferences and written agreements can alter the dynamics between cohabitants, but they do not establish a legal obligation in the absence of recognized rights under the law. Therefore, the correct understanding is that in the absence of specific legal frameworks or agreements, there are typically no support obligations for unmarried cohabitants under most family law statutes.