If you’re not married in Michigan, the law usually treats your partner like a legal stranger — even if you’ve lived together for 15 years, bought a house, and raised kids.

Michigan has no statewide domestic partnership status, and “we’re basically married” doesn’t create property rights, support rights, or inheritance rights. Michigan abolished common law marriage in 1957. No amount of time living together changes that.

The fix isn’t romantic. It’s paperwork — and the couples who do it early avoid the ugliest breakups later.

For couples in the Lansing area and throughout Central Michigan, a handful of local domestic partnership registries offer limited recognition. But registration alone does not create the comprehensive rights most people assume they have. Understanding the difference between what a registry provides and what you actually need is the first step toward protecting your family, your property, and your future.

Michigan’s Domestic Partnership Landscape: No Statewide Law, Limited Local Options

Michigan is one of many states that does not authorize or recognize domestic partnerships at the state level. There is no Michigan statute that creates a domestic partnership status, defines the rights of domestic partners, or provides a process for dissolving a domestic partnership. The state recognizes marriage — and that is essentially it.

What does exist are local ordinances in a small number of Michigan cities and counties that have established their own domestic partnership registries. Some local governments — including East Lansing and Ann Arbor — maintain registries that allow couples to formally declare their partnership. Rules vary by location, and not every registry offers the same benefits or process.

East Lansing (Ordinance No. 1305, adopted October 15, 2013) operates one of the most established registries in the region. East Lansing’s Domestic Partnership Registry, administered by the City Clerk’s office, is open to any Michigan resident — not just East Lansing residents — who wants to make a declaration of domestic partnership. Ingham County also recognizes domestic partnerships. Other Michigan jurisdictions — including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and parts of Washtenaw and Wayne Counties — have at various times offered domestic partnership recognition, though the scope and availability of these programs can change. Confirm current availability with the relevant clerk’s office before relying on any specific registry.

For Central Michigan residents, East Lansing and Ingham County are the most directly relevant options.

But here is where many couples make a critical mistake: registering as domestic partners does not give you the same rights as getting married. Not even close.

What a Domestic Partnership Registry Actually Provides — and What It Does Not

Many Michigan residents don’t realize that domestic partnership registration in East Lansing, Ingham County, or any other Michigan locality primarily serves as a public declaration of commitment rather than a comprehensive legal framework. The benefits are real, but they are narrow.

What Registration May Provide

Depending on the jurisdiction and your employer’s policies, domestic partnership registration may provide access to:

• Employer-sponsored health insurance — Some public employers and larger private companies extend benefits to registered domestic partners. The City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, for example, offer domestic partner benefits to their employees.
• Visitation rights — Hospital and correctional facility visitation for a registered partner
• Employer leave benefits — Sick leave, bereavement leave, and in some cases parental leave
• Public acknowledgment — A formal certificate documenting the partnership

What Registration Does Not Provide

“This is the single most important takeaway in this entire guide: a domestic partnership registry is mainly a recognition and benefits tool. It does not create divorce-style rights. No alimony. No automatic inheritance. No equitable property division.”

Here is what registration does not give you:

• No automatic inheritance rights. If your partner dies without a will, Michigan’s intestacy laws under MCL 700.2102 distribute assets to a surviving legal spouse, children, and blood relatives. An unmarried partner — registered or not — receives nothing by default. Your partner is simply not in the intestacy framework.

• No spousal support or alimony. Michigan courts cannot award spousal support to an unmarried partner after a breakup, regardless of how long the relationship lasted.

• No equitable property division. The family court’s authority to divide marital property under MCL 552.19 does not extend to unmarried couples.

• No joint tax filing. Domestic partners cannot file state or federal taxes jointly. And here’s a tax reality that surprises many couples: employer-paid health coverage for a non-spouse domestic partner is generally treated as imputed income to the employee unless the partner qualifies as a tax dependent under federal rules. That means you may owe income tax on the fair market value of your partner’s coverage — a significant cost difference compared to married couples, who receive employer-sponsored spousal coverage tax-free.

• No automatic medical decision-making authority. Without a Patient Advocate Designation (MCL 700.5506–700.5520), a domestic partner has no legal right to make healthcare decisions for an incapacitated partner.

• No automatic financial decision-making authority. Without a Durable Power of Attorney under Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act (MCL 556.201 et seq., effective July 1, 2024), a partner cannot manage finances, access bank accounts, or handle legal matters.

• No Social Security survivor benefits. These are reserved exclusively for legal spouses.

Myth: “If we’ve lived together long enough, Michigan treats us like married.” Reality: Michigan doesn’t create marital rights from cohabitation — not after 5 years, not after 15 years, not ever.

Property Rights for Unmarried Couples in Michigan

Property disputes are where the gap between married and unmarried couples becomes most financially devastating. When a marriage ends, Michigan’s equitable distribution framework ensures that courts divide marital property fairly, considering factors like each spouse’s contributions, earning capacity, and needs. When an unmarried relationship ends, there is no equivalent legal framework.

The Default Rule: You Own What Is in Your Name

For unmarried couples in Michigan, property generally belongs to whoever holds title or whose name is on the account. This means:

• If only one partner’s name is on the house deed, that partner owns the house — even if the other partner contributed to mortgage payments, maintenance, and improvements for years.
• If only one partner’s name is on a bank account, those funds belong to that partner alone.
• Services rendered during the relationship — such as managing the household, raising children, or helping build a business — are legally presumed to be gratuitous (given freely, without expectation of compensation) unless a written agreement says otherwise.

What Property Disputes Actually Look Like

When an unmarried relationship ends and the couple can’t agree on who gets what, the dispute typically follows one of two paths — neither of which is as clean or predictable as the family court process available to divorcing spouses:

• Partition actions — when both partners’ names are on the deed or title, either co-owner can file a partition action in civil court to force a sale or buyout. The court divides the proceeds, but the process is adversarial, public, and expensive.

• Equitable claims when title is one-sided — when only one partner’s name is on the title but the other contributed financially, the contributing partner may pursue claims like unjust enrichment or constructive trust in civil court. These claims are fact-intensive, expensive to litigate, and outcomes are unpredictable. Courts require strong evidence of specific financial contributions and an implied agreement or expectation of ownership — and “I thought we were building this together” is not enough.

The best way to avoid either of these scenarios is to address property ownership in a written agreement before a dispute arises.

The Cohabitation Agreement: Your Most Important Legal Tool

A cohabitation agreement is essentially a prenuptial agreement for unmarried couples. Michigan courts enforce express written cohabitation agreements as contracts, provided the agreement is independent of the romantic relationship itself — meaning it addresses property and financial matters on their own terms.

A well-drafted cohabitation agreement should address:

• Ownership of existing assets each partner brings into the relationship
• How property acquired during the relationship will be titled and divided
• Responsibility for shared debts and expenses
• Buyout provisions for jointly owned real estate
• Division of personal property (vehicles, furnishings, investments)
• Process for resolving disputes if the relationship ends

Cohabitation agreements cannot address child custody or child support — those issues are decided by the family court based on the child’s best interests under MCL 722.23, regardless of the parents’ marital status.

One important legal update: Michigan repealed the criminal prohibition on unmarried cohabitation in 2023 via Public Act 78 of 2023 (SB 56), with immediate effect. The old statute (MCL 750.335) had criminalized “lewd and lascivious cohabitation” — a law that was virtually never enforced but created lingering legal uncertainty. This repeal didn’t create new relationship rights — but it removed an archaic criminal statute that was out of step with modern life. Written agreements between unmarried partners now rest on firmer legal ground.

How Domestic Partnership Dissolution Differs from Divorce

When a marriage ends in Michigan, the divorce process provides a comprehensive legal framework for resolving every aspect of the relationship: property division, spousal support, child custody, parenting time, and child support. A judge has broad authority to ensure fair outcomes, and both parties have clearly defined rights under Michigan law.

Domestic partnership dissolution is nothing like divorce. And that lack of structure can be either a benefit or a serious problem, depending on your circumstances.

The Dissolution Process

In jurisdictions with domestic partnership registries, ending a registered partnership typically requires filing a Termination of Domestic Partnership with the office where the partnership was registered. In East Lansing, for example, at least one partner must sign and notarize a termination form and file it with the City Clerk. If one partner does not sign, the Clerk will mail a copy of the notice to that partner’s last known address.

That is the entirety of the formal process. There is:

• No mandatory waiting period (unlike Michigan’s 60-day waiting period for divorce without minor children, or 180-day period with minor children)
• No court hearing required
• No judicial review of the terms
• No automatic property settlement
• No spousal support determination

When Dissolution Gets Complicated

The simplicity of dissolution becomes a liability when partners have intertwined finances, co-own property, share debts, or have children together. Without the family court’s equitable division framework, partners must either:

• Reach a private agreement — ideally based on a cohabitation agreement drafted at the start of the relationship
• File a civil lawsuit — to resolve property and financial disputes through contract law or equitable claims like unjust enrichment or constructive trust. These lawsuits are expensive, slow, and outcomes are far less predictable than family court
• Pursue mediation — a less adversarial option for negotiating a fair separation

In our experience serving families throughout Central Michigan and Southeast Michigan, the couples who face the most difficult separations are those who never put anything in writing. Without a cohabitation agreement, years of financial contributions, shared sacrifices, and informal promises have almost no legal weight.

If You Live Together, Do These Five Things This Month

Protecting an unmarried partnership doesn’t require a single grand gesture. It requires five specific actions — and the sooner you complete them, the stronger your legal position becomes:

1. Confirm how major assets are titled — house, cars, bank accounts. If your name isn’t on it, you likely don’t own it.
2. Execute a cohabitation agreement if contributions are uneven, you co-own property, or you need a buyout plan if the relationship ends.
3. Sign financial powers of attorney (under Michigan’s updated Uniform Power of Attorney Act, effective July 1, 2024) and Patient Advocate Designations — so your partner can act for you in a medical or financial emergency.
4. Update beneficiary designations on life insurance, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA), and payable-on-death bank accounts. These designations override your will.
5. Create a will or trust if you actually want your partner protected — because Michigan’s intestacy laws won’t do it for you.

Every item on this list is something married couples receive automatically or address through the divorce process. Unmarried couples must build each one deliberately.

Essential Legal Documents Every Central Michigan Domestic Partner Needs

Because Michigan law does not automatically extend rights to domestic partners, you must create those rights through legal documents. Without them, your partner is a legal stranger when it matters most.

1. Cohabitation Agreement

Defines property ownership, expense sharing, debt responsibility, and how assets will be divided if the relationship ends. This is your equivalent of a prenuptial agreement.

2. Durable Power of Attorney

Under Michigan’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act (MCL 556.201 et seq.), Michigan updated the rules for financial powers of attorney effective July 1, 2024. This document authorizes your partner to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. The updated statute modernizes requirements, expands protections for the principal, and provides clearer guidance on agent responsibilities.

3. Patient Advocate Designation

Governed by MCL 700.5506–700.5520, this is Michigan’s healthcare power of attorney. It authorizes your partner to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate your own wishes.

4. Last Will and Testament or Trust

Because domestic partners have no automatic inheritance rights, a will or trust is the only way to ensure your partner receives the assets you intend them to have. Without one, Michigan’s intestacy laws will distribute your estate to blood relatives — not your partner.

5. Beneficiary Designations

Review and update beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA), and payable-on-death bank accounts. These designations override your will, so keeping them current is essential.

6. HIPAA Authorization

A signed HIPAA release allows your partner to access your medical records and communicate with your healthcare providers. Without it, privacy laws may prevent your partner from obtaining basic information about your condition.

Comprehensive will-based estate plans that include powers of attorney, wills, and advance directives typically cost $1,500–$2,500 through a qualified Michigan estate planning attorney. Trust-based plans, which offer additional protection and flexibility, range from $2,500–$5,500. For domestic partners without the safety net of marital rights, these documents are not optional — they are essential.

How to Register a Domestic Partnership in Central Michigan

For couples in the Lansing area who want formal recognition of their partnership, here is how the process works in the most accessible local registries:

East Lansing Domestic Partnership Registry

• Who can register: Any Michigan resident — East Lansing residency is not required
• Requirements: Both partners must complete and sign the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form, which must be signed by two witnesses and notarized
• Where to file: East Lansing City Clerk’s Office — staff can serve as both the notary and witnesses
• To schedule: Call (517) 319-6914 or email cityclerk@cityofeastlansing.com
• Personal touches: Couples are welcome to bring family and friends to witness the signing of the Domestic Partner Certificate

Ingham County

Ingham County also recognizes domestic partnerships. Contact the Ingham County Clerk’s office for specific registration procedures and requirements.

Important Considerations

• Registration is a public record — the information on a domestic partnership declaration may be viewed by anyone who requests it
• Registration does not create the comprehensive legal rights discussed above — you still need estate planning documents and a cohabitation agreement
• Either partner can terminate the partnership by filing a notarized Termination of Domestic Partnership form

Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Partnerships in Central Michigan

Does Michigan recognize common law marriage?

No. Michigan abolished common law marriage in 1957. No matter how long you and your partner have lived together, shared expenses, or presented yourselves as a couple, Michigan does not recognize your relationship as a legal marriage. Only a formal marriage license creates marital rights in Michigan.

Can I register a domestic partnership if I do not live in East Lansing?

Yes. East Lansing’s Domestic Partnership Registry is open to any Michigan resident, not just East Lansing residents. You can file your declaration with the East Lansing City Clerk’s office regardless of where you live in the state. However, the practical benefits of registration — such as employer-provided insurance — depend on your specific employer’s policies, not the registration itself.

What happens to our shared property if our domestic partnership ends?

Without a written cohabitation agreement, you have very limited legal recourse. Michigan’s equitable property division laws apply only to married couples going through divorce. For domestic partners, property generally belongs to whoever holds title. If both names are on the deed, either partner can file a partition action to force a sale or buyout. If title is one-sided, the contributing partner may pursue unjust enrichment or constructive trust claims — but these are expensive, fact-heavy, and outcomes are unpredictable. A cohabitation agreement avoids both scenarios.

Do domestic partners have to pay taxes on partner health insurance benefits?

In most cases, yes. Employer-paid health coverage for a non-spouse domestic partner is generally treated as imputed income to the employee unless the partner qualifies as the employee’s tax dependent under federal rules. That means the fair market value of the coverage is added to your taxable income — a significant cost difference compared to married couples, who receive employer-sponsored spousal coverage tax-free. Consult a tax professional to understand the specific impact on your situation.

Can a domestic partner make medical decisions for me in an emergency?

Not automatically. Unlike a legal spouse, a domestic partner has no default authority to make medical decisions. You need a Patient Advocate Designation (MCL 700.5506) signed in the presence of two witnesses to grant your partner this authority. Without this document, medical providers will look to your legal next of kin — typically parents or adult children — for decision-making authority, not your partner.

Is a cohabitation agreement enforceable in Michigan?

Yes — if it is properly drafted. Michigan courts enforce express written cohabitation agreements as contracts. The agreement must be based on independent consideration (meaning the agreement stands on its own terms, separate from the romantic relationship) and should be signed voluntarily with full disclosure of each party’s assets. Best practice: each partner should have the agreement reviewed by their own attorney before signing.

How is domestic partnership dissolution different from divorce?

Dissolution is administratively simpler but offers far fewer protections. To end a registered domestic partnership, you file a termination form with the registering office. There is no waiting period, no court hearing, and no judge overseeing property division or support. For couples with intertwined finances, shared property, or children, this means you must resolve every financial and parenting issue privately — through negotiation, mediation, or a civil lawsuit — without the structured framework that divorce provides.

Protect Your Central Michigan Partnership with the Right Legal Foundation

Choosing not to marry does not mean choosing to go without legal protection. But in Michigan, those protections do not come automatically — you have to build them deliberately.

At Boroja, Bernier & Associates, we help unmarried couples throughout Central Michigan, Southeast Michigan, and Mid-Michigan create the legal frameworks that protect their relationships, their property, and their families. Whether you need a cohabitation agreement, comprehensive estate planning documents, or guidance on registering a domestic partnership, our attorneys provide the clear, specific advice your situation requires.

With our main office in Shelby Township and satellite offices in Troy, Ann Arbor, and Lansing, we are positioned to serve domestic partners wherever they are in Michigan — including families in the Lansing area who want to take advantage of local partnership registries while ensuring their legal protections go far beyond registration alone.

To schedule a consultation with the Michigan family law and estate planning attorneys at Boroja, Bernier & Associates, call our law offices at (586) 991-7611. The legal rights you don’t create today are the ones you won’t have tomorrow.