Many couples in Washington live together, build a life, and accumulate property without ever getting legally married. When those relationships end, people are often shocked to discover that their rights are not automatically protected and that misunderstandings about “common-law marriage” can lead to painful, expensive consequences.
That uncertainty becomes even more stressful when each partner sees the relationship differently. Questions about how long you lived together, whether you shared finances, or whether the relationship was “serious enough” can quickly turn into major disputes. Without a clear understanding of how Washington courts analyze these cases, people risk giving up rights they didn’t know they had or fighting over issues the law won’t recognize.
This page answers the most common questions about how CIRs are defined, who qualifies, who does not, when a CIR begins or ends, and how the statute of limitations affects your options. It lays the foundation for the deeper topics explored in the remaining hubs.
➡ For more general information visit our page Unmarried Couples: Committed Intimate Relationships (CIRs) in Washington
Defining the Committed Intimate Relationship (CIR)
What is a Committed Intimate Relationship in Washington State?
A Committed Intimate Relationship (CIR) is a stable, marriage-like relationship where an unmarried couple lives together and acquires property as a unit. Washington courts use CIRs to fairly divide property when the relationship ends, based on equity rather than statute (Connell v. Francisco, 127 Wn.2d 339).
Is a CIR the same thing as common-law marriage?
No. Washington does not recognize common-law marriage, but it does allow courts to divide property acquired during a stable, marriage-like relationship through the CIR doctrine.
How is a CIR different from marriage in Washington?
Marriage creates statutory rights and obligations, including access to divorce courts, maintenance, and community property rules. A CIR only allows courts to divide property acquired during the relationship; it does not create marital status or rights outside property division.
Do CIR laws apply equally to same-sex couples?
Yes. CIR doctrine applies to all couples, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, as long as the relationship meets the marriage-like standard.
Why does Washington recognize CIRs even though it does not recognize common-law marriage?
The doctrine prevents unjust enrichment when unmarried partners build a life together and acquire community-like property. It allows courts to make a just and equitable distribution of that property (Connell, 127 Wn.2d at 349).
Who Qualifies for a CIR
What factors do Washington courts consider when determining whether a CIR existed?
Courts look at several nonexclusive factors: continuity of the relationship, cohabitation, duration, purpose of the relationship, pooling of resources, and intent of the parties (Pennington, 142 Wn.2d 592).
How long do you have to live together for a CIR to apply?
Washington courts do not impose a minimum duration. Some shorter relationships have been treated as CIRs where the couple quickly formed a stable, marriage-like partnership, while some longer relationships did not qualify because key factors were missing.
Can you be in a CIR without living together full-time?
Cohabitation is one of the strongest indicators of a CIR, but courts look at the entire relationship rather than a single factor. If a couple maintains a materially shared life, even while spending time apart for work, children, or other reasons, a court may still consider whether the relationship functioned in a marriage-like way.
Do you need to share finances or own property together to have a CIR?
Not necessarily. Pooling resources is a major factor, but courts look at the relationship as a whole—including shared expenses, contributions, and how the couple functioned.
Does having children together automatically create a CIR?
No single factor, including children, establishes a CIR on its own. But having a child may suggest a deeper level of commitment. Courts still evaluate the relationship as a whole to determine whether it resembled a marital partnership.
Can a CIR exist even if the relationship had breakups or periods of separation?
Possibly. Courts look at the broader pattern of the relationship, recognizing that many couples experience turbulence, but they distinguish temporary disruptions from genuine breaks in the marriage-like partnership.
Does a CIR require sexual intimacy?
Physical intimacy is usually one of the indicators courts consider when deciding whether a relationship functioned like a marriage, but it is not treated as a rigid requirement. Washington courts have clarified that the absence of sexual contact, particularly late in a relationship, does not automatically end a CIR — the key question is whether the couple’s overall conduct still reflected a stable, committed partnership (Muridan, 3 Wn. App. 2d at 61).
Who Does Not Qualify
What types of relationships typically do not qualify as a CIR?
Casual dating, convenience roommates, or relationships lacking shared life responsibilities generally do not qualify.
Can roommates or platonic friends ever qualify for CIR protection?
Probably not. Cohabitation alone is not enough; courts require evidence of an intimate partnership resembling marriage, not friendship or shared housing.
Does keeping property and finances separate prevent a CIR claim?
Not necessarily. Some couples maintain separate accounts yet still function as an economic and relational team in ways similar to a marriage. Courts consider financial separation as one factor among many, rather than a decisive rule.
Can you have a CIR if one partner is legally married to someone else?
It is possible, but the analysis becomes more complex. Courts examine whether the unmarried partners built a relationship that functioned as a marriage-like unit, while recognizing that the legally married partner already has formal obligations to someone else. This often makes the factual evaluation more difficult, not impossible.
Starting and Ending a CIR
How does a court determine when a CIR began?
Courts look for when the relationship became stable, continuous, and marriage-like, not simply the first date or move-in date.
How do courts decide when a CIR ended?
The end date is a factual question based on evidence of a clear, objective break in the relationship (Muridan, 3 Wn. App. 2d at 56).
Does moving into different bedrooms end a CIR?
Not by itself. There are many reasons a couple may sleep in different rooms and yet maintain their relationship (sleep apnea comes to mind). A couple’s sleeping arrangements are only one piece of evidence; the key question is whether their overall behavior shows that the partnership has truly ended.
Can one person unilaterally end a CIR?
Yes. A CIR ends when one partner clearly communicates an intent to end the relationship and the other partner understands that intent (G.W.-F., 170 Wn. App. at 648–49).
What counts as a “clear and unequivocal” breakup for CIR purposes?
Direct communication, moving out for good, formal separation actions, or other conduct showing the relationship is truly over—beyond mere arguments or temporary separations.
Statute of Limitations
What is the statute of limitations for bringing a CIR property claim?
A CIR property claim must be filed within three years after the relationship ends (Kelly & Moesslang, 170 Wn. App. at 737).
When does the three-year deadline begin to run?
The deadline begins when the CIR ends—which requires a clear, communicated breakup, not simply moving apart or sleeping separately.
Can the statute of limitations be extended or paused?
Generally, no. The deadline is strict unless the claimant can show the relationship had not actually ended or that the breakup was ambiguous.
What happens if someone files a CIR claim after the deadline?
The court will dismiss the claim, and the partner who kept the property will generally retain it, even if it would have been divided under CIR principles.
Take Action to Protect the Life You’ve Built
A relationship can feel meaningful, committed, and marriage-like long before anyone thinks about legal definitions. But when the relationship ends, those definitions matter. Understanding how Washington views Committed Intimate Relationships gives you the clarity needed to protect yourself, evaluate your options, and avoid decisions based on fear or assumptions. It also helps prevent painful disputes by grounding the conversation in how courts actually evaluate real-world relationships.
As you move forward, remember that CIR law is about making sure that the end of your relationship does not leave one of the partners with nothing to show for years of building a life together. Despite titles and deeds, washington law recognizes protections for people who choose to live together without a marriage contract defining their relationship. The law recognizes the vulnerabilities of couples in these arrangements.
But you have to act now to make sure that your property rights are protected
Reviewed by Attorney Zachary C Ashby, Pacific Northwest Family Law, November 2025