Signs That A New Partner Who Is Moving In With You May Have Dubious Intentions
When you've been dating someone for a short amount of time and decide to invite this person to move in with you, it's important that you protect yourself. Obviously, part of protecting yourself means that you should really get to know the person before you cohabitate, but another type of protection to consider is financial protection. While the risk may be low, it's possible that the person could have dubious intentions — perhaps he or she knows that you're affluent and has plans to live with you for a while, break up, and then make a claim for a percentage of your assets. You can avoid such an issue by having a family attorney write up a cohabitation agreement in advance. Here are some signs that the person you're dating may have dubious intentions.
He/She Doesn't Want A Cohabitation Agreement
Some people shy away from cohabitation agreements and prenuptial agreements because they don't want to think about breaking up. Others may attempt to get out of signing such a document because they know it would foil their less-than-honorable plans. For example, if a scammer wants to get in a relationship with you and plans to lay claim to your assets sometime after moving in with you, he or she knows that a cohabitation agreement will be a barrier to doing so. If your new partner shows a strong aversion to signing this legal document, you should be wary.
He/She Has No Money And No Plans
While there are certainly people who are in a poor financial situation but are good people, it never hurts to be wary of someone who is eager to get into a relationship with you but clearly doesn't have money. For example, if you have a high-end condo, a nice car, and a good job, and someone who isn't working and has lots of debts is eager to live with you, you should pause for a moment. How well do you know this person? Does he or she have plans to get a good job? It's possible that he or she may be using you for your money during the relationship and plan to take legal action against you following a breakup.
He/She Seems Overly Eager To Move In
It's customary to date someone for a while before you move in together. If you see signs that your new partner is overly eager to move into your place, it could be a red flag. A person can't legally lay claim to your assets if you're only dating, but doing so can get easier upon you beginning to live together. You should be wary if this person wants to move in with you long before it seems practical to do so. Remember, a cohabitation agreement from your local family attorney can always protect you once you start to live with someone.