{"type":"document","data":{"id":"c7527a1f-57be-4cc2-9a5a-a2c9f6083a94","localeString":"en-GB","publishDate":"2026-03-18T18:28:38.764+01:00","contentType":"onecms:productPage","hasMacro":false,"flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"robotInstruction":{"noIndex":false,"noFollow":false},"description":"Samenwonen en afspraken vastleggen? Dit zijn de verschillen tussen een samenlevingscontract of geregistreerd partnerschap."},"mainHeaderZone":{"componentType":"productHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"When you move in together, you often make arrangements about how to manage your finances. Do you want to record these agreements officially without getting married? Then you can choose a cohabitation agreement or a registered partnership.\r\nThe biggest difference: a cohabitation agreement is a formal document containing the agreements between the two of you. A registered partnership is arranged at the municipality and, in terms of rights and obligations, most closely resembles a marriage.","headerImage":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/b301d473-1fcb-4a9e-b066-b181204bc207/young-man-playfully-biting","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/5f65ae1bfde5cfe/original/young-man-playfully-biting.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"title":"Living together: Cohabitation agreement or registered partnership?"},"backLink":{"textLink":{"url":"/en/personal/banking-together","text":"More about living together and banking together"}}},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Living arrangements in brief:","richBody":{"value":"<ul class=\"check-mark\"><li><p>Living together without a contract? No obligations, but also no rights</p></li><li><p>A cohabitation agreement is drawn up with a notary and contains your mutual agreements. It costs between €150 and €750</p></li><li><p>A registered partnership legally resembles a marriage the most. Some municipalities even offer it for free on specific days</p></li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Living together without a contract: no obligations, but also no rights"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Deciding to move in together? Legally, nothing is arranged automatically. Your friends and family may see you as a couple, but legally, you’re still two individuals. So you can live together without formal agreements.</p>"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"That has legal and financial consequences.","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li>Without an official arrangement, there are no legal rights or obligations between you</li><li>Assets and debts remain with the person whose name they’re in. When ending the relationship, there is no automatic division of (joint) belongings—you must arrange this yourselves</li><li>You don’t automatically inherit from each other. If you want that, you must arrange it officially</li><li>You are not automatically considered fiscal partners, which can be disadvantageous for your tax return</li></ul>"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Cohabitation agreement: a solid foundation on your terms"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>A cohabitation agreement outlines everything you decide together about living together and potentially separating. For example, how you divide joint expenses. You also agree which possessions remain personal and which are shared. The same goes for financial obligations—for example, a student loan you don’t want your partner to be responsible for. You also record what happens to your joint assets, such as money in a joint account, if you separate or one of you passes away.</p>"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"What does a cohabitation agreement cost?","richBody":{"value":"<p>You make a cohabitation agreement official by having it notarized. This costs money. Prices vary by notary and by contract, but usually fall between €150 and €750</p>"}},{"title":"Characteristics of a cohabitation agreement","richBody":{"value":"<p>In brief:</p><ul><li><p>You become fiscal partners. You file tax returns together, which may be beneficial.</p></li><li><p>You make agreements about income and possessions. What is shared, and what remains personal? Items purchased together become joint property unless you state otherwise.</p></li><li><p>If one of you passes away, the partner may qualify for survivor’s pension—only if you register your partner with the pension fund.</p></li><li><p>If one of you dies, the surviving partner does not pay inheritance tax on joint possessions. Note: this successor’s law only applies after six months of having a cohabitation agreement with mutual care obligations.</p></li><li><p>A cohabitation agreement is easy to end. You don’t need to go to court.</p></li><li><p>If one partner moves into the other’s owned home, you can include agreements about contributing to the mortgage, equity, and value growth</p></li></ul>"}},{"title":"Also good to know if you choose a cohabitation agreement","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li>Becoming each other’s fiscal partner also makes you each other’s allowance partner. This may reduce benefits you previously received as a single person. You must report changes to the tax authorities yourself.</li><li>If you have a child, the father does not automatically have the same rights as the mother. He must officially acknowledge the child and request parental authority in court.</li><li>A cohabitation agreement does not regulate inheritance. If you want joint assets to go to the surviving partner, you need a survivorship clause. If you want to ensure your partner inherits the house, you must record this in a will.</li><li>With a cohabitation agreement, you do not automatically become heirs. A will is required.</li></ul>"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Renting or buying? What to arrange with a cohabitation agreement","richBody":{"value":"<p>Where will you live? A key question—and for people with a cohabitation agreement, there are additional steps.</p>"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Renting? Make sure you are both listed as tenants","richBody":{"value":"<p>Moving in with your partner who rents? Register as a co‑tenant. Otherwise, you may not be allowed to stay if your partner dies. If you rent together, both will be listed as tenants.</p>"}},{"title":"Moving into a partner’s owned home","richBody":{"value":"<p>There are several options: You can pay rent, but then you don’t share in the home’s equity growth. You can buy in for half ownership—this involves costs such as notary fees and transfer tax. If you don’t buy in or pay toward the mortgage, you may still contribute to renovations or improvements. A value‑increase clause in your cohabitation agreement ensures you receive part of the value increase you’ve contributed to.</p>"}},{"title":"Living together in an owner‑occupied home? Here’s how to arrange it properly","richBody":{"value":"<p>Have a jointly owned home? A value‑increase clause may also be useful—especially if one contributed more to the purchase or mortgage repayments.<br />No will and no children? Consider adding a survivorship clause, stating all joint assets go to the surviving partner. A notary or financial adviser can help.</p>"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Registered partnership: guaranteed rights and obligations"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>A registered partnership is arranged with the municipality. In many ways, it resembles a marriage. You formalize it with a small ceremony in the presence of witnesses (and guests if you want), but you don’t have to officially say “I do.” Registered partners are each other’s legal heirs and have a duty of care. If you have a child, you share parental authority. If you separate—and have no minor children—you don’t need to go to court (unlike in marriage).</p><p><strong>Note:</strong> Since 2018, couples entering a registered partnership or marriage automatically fall under limited community of property. If you want something different, you must arrange it with a notary.</p>"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"What does a registered partnership cost?","richBody":{"value":"<p>Costs vary by municipality. Some offer free time slots, though often with a waiting list. To find out what it costs in your municipality, check your local government’s website.</p>"}},{"title":"Characteristics of a registered partnership","richBody":{"value":"<p><strong>In brief</strong></p><ul><li>You automatically become each other’s heirs</li><li>You have equal parental rights if you have children</li><li>You can take each other’s last name without changing your official surname</li><li>Buying a house? You automatically both become owners</li><li> No minor children and breaking up? No court needed</li><li>You are entitled to each other’s pension</li></ul>"}},{"title":"Also good to know if you choose a registered partnership","richBody":{"value":"<ul><li>Even without a court procedure, your partner retains rights to spousal support and half of your accrued pension</li><li>Registered partnerships may cause issues if you want to live or work abroad—always check beforehand</li></ul>"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Managing money together"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Whatever you agree about your joint finances and however you record them: a joint account gives clarity, convenience, and benefits. A joint account (also called an “and/or account”) is in both your names, and you can both use it to pay and save (if you open a joint savings account). Money in your joint accounts is joint property, which you can also formalize in agreements.</p><p>Read more about managing your money easily and clearly with a joint account.</p><p><strong>Discuss which living arrangement suits you best with a financial adviser or notary.</strong></p><p> </p>"}},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"medium","title":"Joint account","intro":"One account for your joint finances. With two debitcards and mobile payment","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/7c9e3e9d-3d26-4b0e-9b9a-f486e79c5698/Two-women-standing-next-to-a-waterfall-while-embracing-each-other-and-screaming-with-happiness","type":"image","width":4928,"altTextEN":"\"\"","altTextNL":"\"\"","altTextFR":"\"\"","altTextDE":"\"\"","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/7eb039ee2c0df169/original/Two-women-standing-next-to-a-waterfall-while-embracing-each-other-and-screaming-with-happiness.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/personal/payments/bank-accounts/open-a-joint-account"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"medium","title":"More about living together","body":"More information to help you on your way when moving in together.","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/8413b388-79db-4aa7-aaed-c1755211bc52/1157512200","type":"image","width":6000,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/740576a21ba649b9/original/1157512200.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/particulier/samen-bankieren"}}]}]}}}