Probability of Cohabiting Before Marriage

Cohabitation before marriage has become the norm in the United States, with approximately 69% of first marriages preceded by cohabitation, according to CDC data. This represents a dramatic shift from the 1960s when only about 10% of couples lived together before marriage. About 7.5 million unmarried couples currently cohabit in the US.

The relationship between cohabitation and divorce has been debated extensively. Earlier research suggested cohabitors had higher divorce rates, but more recent studies show this "cohabitation effect" has largely disappeared for couples who move in together after engagement or with a clear commitment to marry. The higher divorce risk appears to be concentrated among serial cohabitors (those who have lived with multiple partners) and those who slide into cohabitation for convenience rather than deciding intentionally.

Cohabiting couples should be aware that legal protections are significantly weaker than for married couples. In most states, cohabiting partners have no automatic inheritance rights, no community property protections, no right to partner's health insurance or Social Security benefits, and limited rights regarding children born during the relationship. Cohabitation agreements can address some of these gaps.