Living Together—Not Married—After 50: Companionship Without the Ceremony
It turns out you don’t need a wedding to build a life together. More adults over 50 are choosing to cohabit—living with a partner without getting married. It’s not a step toward marriage, but a choice to enjoy companionship without the ties of traditional expectations.
“A Great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It’s when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” – Dave Meurer
In fact, since 2007, cohabitation among adults 50+ has grown by roughly 75%, rising from 2.3 million to 4 million in 2016—not because more older adults exist, but because more are choosing this lifestyle. Today, about 4% of unmarried adults over 50 are living together—double what it was two decades ago.
Why This Shift Makes Sense
Freedom & Flexibility
With children grown and careers winding down, many find renewed joy in sharing daily life without a legal commitment. It’s relationship, not paperwork.Companionship Without Compromise
Cohabiting couples often enjoy closeness while preserving independence, equal finances, and personal space.Financial Savvy
Unlike marriage, cohabitation lets couples keep their assets separate—helpful in protecting inheritances and navigating retirement plans.Social Acceptance
Today, there’s less stigma around living together. In 2019, roughly 69% of adults agreed that cohabiting couples are just as capable as married ones in raising children.
How Cohabitation Compares to Marriage
Studies show that older cohabiting couples enjoy similar relationship quality as their married peers—though marriage retains edge when it comes to healthcare benefits, legal protections, and ease of decision-making in emergencies.
Still, many over 50 choose cohabitation because…
“We’re equals. We like it this way,” says Rochelle Ventura, 83, who lives apart from her partner but cherishes both intimacy and autonomy.
What to Consider If You Love the Idea
Legal Protections: Without marriage, you may need cohabitation agreements—or even wills and powers of attorney—to protect each other.
Healthcare & Finances: Make sure you’re covered in emergencies—health insurance, estate planning, beneficiary designations.
Living Arrangements: Decide together if you want one home, two, or something in between (like “Living–Apart–Together”) that offers intimacy plus personal space.
socialworktoday.com, pewresearch.org, time.com, pmc.ncbi.nim.nih.gov, drazenlaw.com, aarp.org, gbsu.edu, theguardian.com,ucl.ac.uk
