COHABITATION PROPERTY AND EXPENSE AGREEMENT
Republic of the Philippines — Partners' property and expenses · Template v0.2.0
This Cohabitation Property and Expense Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on September 27, 2026 at Quezon City, Philippines, between Maria Cristina Santos, of legal age, single, and Roberto Villanueva, of legal age, single, who live together at 45 Mabini Street, Quezon City 1100 and have done so since February 1, 2023 (together, the "Partners").
1. Purpose and limits
The Partners make this Agreement to record how they own property and share expenses while they live together, and how they will divide shared property if they separate.
This Agreement is not a marriage. It does not change either Partner's civil status and does not affect the legitimacy of any child, support, parental authority, or succession rights, which the law fixes and the Partners cannot change by agreement.
2. Legal route and shared property
The partners state that they are both free to marry each other and are living together as spouses without a marriage. Their property relations are governed by Article 147 of the Family Code.
Under Article 147, the partners' wages and salaries are owned in equal shares, and property they acquire through work or industry is co-owned. Unless proof shows otherwise, property acquired while they live together is presumed to come from their joint efforts and to be owned in equal shares. A partner who did not share in the acquisition is treated as having contributed jointly if that partner cared for the family and the household.
Until their cohabitation ends, neither Partner may encumber or dispose of that Partner's share in property acquired during the cohabitation and owned in common, by acts between living persons, without the other Partner's consent (Family Code, Article 147).
Consistent with Article 147, the Partners' wages and salaries, and the property they acquire by their joint efforts while living together, are owned in equal shares.
The Partners cannot agree to shares different from those the law gives them. A share larger than the law allows may be void as a gift between persons living together as spouses without a valid marriage (Family Code, Article 87).
Each Partner shall keep receipts, transfer records, and other proof of what that Partner paid for each shared asset.
3. Separate property
Maria Cristina Santos's separate property, which stays with Maria Cristina Santos: A condominium unit in Quezon City acquired before living together, and personal savings held in the first partner's own accounts.
Roberto Villanueva's separate property, which stays with Roberto Villanueva: A motorcycle and personal savings held in the second partner's own accounts.
Property that a Partner owned before living together, or received by inheritance or as a gift from a third person, remains that Partner's own unless the Partners agree in writing to make it shared.
4. Titles and records
Shared real property and vehicles shall be titled in both Partners' names.
Contributions are recorded as contributions and not as gifts. Every donation or grant of gratuitous advantage between persons living together as spouses without a valid marriage is void, except moderate gifts on occasions of family rejoicing (Family Code, Article 87). A Partner's payment toward a shared asset is therefore a contribution to shared ownership and not a gift.
5. Household expenses
The Partners shall share the household expenses 55% for Maria Cristina Santos and 45% for Roberto Villanueva.
Shared household expenses cover: Rent, utilities, groceries, internet, and household repairs.
The Partners shall keep a joint account with BDO Unibank for these expenses and shall each deposit their share on or before the due date each month.
This expense split covers household living expenses only. The charges of co-owned property, such as loan amortization, real property tax, insurance, and association dues, are borne by the Partners in proportion to their ownership shares, and any stipulation to the contrary is void (Civil Code, Article 485).
6. Debts
Each Partner is responsible for that Partner's own debts, and no Partner is liable for the other's.
This Section binds only the Partners between themselves. It does not limit any creditor's rights against either Partner.
7. Children
Support for, and parental authority over, any child of either Partner is governed by law and is not affected by this Agreement.