Cohabitation Agreement – English Word/PDF + Swedish Reference + Guide

Cohabitation Agreement – English-first template under Swedish law for cohabitees or prospective cohabitees who want to decide whether the Swedish Cohabitees Act rules on division of cohabitation property should apply in full, not at all, or with clearly defined exclusions. The package includes an English Word/PDF agreement, a Swedish reference version and detailed user guides in both languages.

What is included?

Cohabitation Agreement – English Word	Editable primary template governed by Swedish law.
Cohabitation Agreement – English PDF	Print-ready version.
English user guide – Word + PDF	Step-by-step guidance on property, exclusions, signing and common mistakes.
Swedish reference template – Word + PDF	Swedish reference version for bilingual households and advisers.
Swedish user guide – Word + PDF	Swedish reference guidance corresponding to the English package.

Three clear agreement options

1. Exclude statutory division entirely

For couples who want the Cohabitees Act division rules not to apply between them. This does not change legal ownership; each person's ownership must still be assessed under ordinary property and contract law.

2. Exclude specified property

For couples who want the statutory rules to apply generally but wish to exclude clearly identified property, such as a particular home. The template includes a dedicated appendix for precise identification.

3. Exclude a clearly defined property category

For narrower arrangements where a specific category of cohabitation property should be kept outside a future division. The wording must be sufficiently clear to identify what is covered.

What counts as cohabitation property?

The Swedish Cohabitees Act does not automatically cover everything the parties own. The core category is the joint home and household goods acquired for joint use. The purpose at the time of acquisition is important.

A home that one party already owned and used before the cohabitation began is therefore often outside the statutory category because it was not acquired for joint use. A home acquired with the intention that it become the couple's shared home may be treated differently.

Ownership and division rights are different

A cohabitation agreement regulates whether statutory division rules apply. It does not automatically change ownership shares in a home, create a debt between the parties or decide who paid more.

If one partner contributed more to the purchase and the parties want that difference to be repaid, a separate promissory note may be needed depending on the intended arrangement. See our specialised package for unequal cash contributions, promissory note and cohabitation agreement.

Wills and inheritance are separate

A cohabitation agreement is not a will. Cohabitees do not inherit from each other under the statutory order of succession. If the parties want inheritance protection, they should consider a separate will and the formal requirements applicable to wills.

Separation and the one-year deadline

If cohabitation ends for a reason other than the parties marrying each other, a statutory division can take place if requested by one of the cohabitees. The request must generally be made within one year after the cohabitation legally ended. Recent Supreme Court case law has emphasised that the statutory criteria for when cohabitation ends are applied strictly.

This product is for the agreement made before a possible division. If the relationship has already ended and property is being distributed, a division-of-property agreement for cohabitees may be more appropriate.

Some statutory rights may still remain

A section 9 cohabitation agreement does not automatically remove every other rule in the Cohabitees Act. The Act contains, among other things, special rules on takeover of certain rented or tenant-owned homes and consent requirements for some dispositions involving the common home and household goods.

If the parties later marry

The cohabitation relationship under the Cohabitees Act ends when the parties marry each other. This agreement does not automatically become a prenuptial agreement. If the parties later wish to regulate separate property as spouses, a separate prenuptial agreement should be considered.

No registration and no mandatory witnesses

The agreement must be written and signed by both cohabitees or prospective cohabitees. Swedish law does not impose a general witness requirement for a section 9 cohabitation agreement, and there is no authority registration procedure comparable to registration of a Swedish prenuptial agreement.

The template includes optional witness lines for parties who want additional evidentiary support without presenting witnessing as a legal validity requirement.

English + Swedish in one package

The English agreement is the primary document in this product. The Swedish version is included as a reference for Swedish banks, advisers, authorities and bilingual households. This is an English-language version governed by Swedish law, not a UK, US or other foreign cohabitation agreement.

Prefer a Swedish-first package? See the Swedish Samboavtal product →

Detailed user guides included

The guides explain:

• when the template is suitable and when it is not enough,
• what counts as cohabitation property,
• the difference between ownership and division rights,
• how to exclude property clearly,
• when a promissory note or will may also be needed,
• the one-year deadline after separation,
• home-takeover and consent rules that may still apply,
• what happens if the parties later marry,
• common drafting and signing mistakes.

File formats and delivery

Formats: DOCX, PDF and ZIP.
Languages: English and Swedish.
Number of files: 8.
Delivery: digital download. No physical product is shipped.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Swedish cohabitation agreement need witnesses?

No. Witnessing is not a statutory validity requirement under section 9 of the Cohabitees Act. Both parties must sign the written agreement.

Does the agreement have to be registered?

No. A Swedish cohabitation agreement is not submitted to an authority for registration.

Can we exclude only one specific home?

Yes. The Act permits specified property to be excluded. The property should be described precisely enough to identify it later.

Does the agreement protect a larger cash contribution?

Not necessarily. The cohabitation agreement regulates division under the Cohabitees Act but does not automatically create a repayment claim. A separate promissory note may be needed depending on the arrangement.

Do cohabitees inherit from each other?

No, not under the statutory order of succession. A separate will should be considered if inheritance protection is desired.

This package is a general documentation aid under Swedish law and does not replace individual legal advice. High-value assets, disputed ownership, international connections, guardianship issues or complex co-ownership arrangements may require professional review.