Romance makes moving in together feel like a milestone, not a financial merger – but that’s exactly what it is. Once a couple signs a lease together, opens a joint account, or makes a major purchase jointly they are entering a binding economic relationship without legal protection.

South African law recognises marriage and civil unions, but not cohabitation. So when relationships end, one partner can lose everything, regardless of who paid for what.

Without a cohabitation agreement, assets bought together are legally owned by whoever paid for them or whose name is on the contract. If your partner buys the car or signs the lease, you could be left with no claim, even after years of shared expenses.

A simple “money marriage contract” can fix this. It’s not romantic, but it’s rational: a short, written agreement outlining who contributes what to rent, groceries, furniture, or joint savings. It can also set out how debts and break-ups will be handled. Many law firms offer templates for under R2 000, and the document can be signed privately, without court registration.

The goal isn’t mistrust, it’s mutual clarity. Love thrives when resentment doesn’t, and clear financial boundaries protect both heart and pocket. In modern relationships, transparency is the truest form of commitment.