How a Consumer Hired a Lawyer to Review a Cohabitation Agreement in California

In 2026, a personal client in California sought assistance with a cohabitation agreement. The client and their partner, who have lived together for three years without being married, wanted a thorough review of a nearly complete draft to ensure that their respective separate properties were clearly delineated. The primary concern was to protect the client's ownership of their condominium, as well as their retirement accounts and other assets, while also addressing shared expenses and arrangements related to jointly owned property. As a result, the client received five proposals from licensed lawyers, with flat fee bids ranging from $495 to $1,100, all submitted to ensure completion within the requested deadline of less than a week.