Cohabitation is when a man and a woman lives together in an emotional or (and) physical relationship without themselves marrying. In recent times, especially in the Western world, this new concept of cohabitation has become rather common.

This concept has got social acceptance in many regions, while in other places has become quite controversial, as it is totally against many religious beliefs. It is considered a sin for the couples to be living together before marrying.

Then why is that it has become an instant hit among the youngsters today?

Many youngsters today believe that living together before the marriage can help them understand each other better, test whether their relationship would materialize in the long run and check whether their partner is compatible or ideal for him or her. Thus cohabitation is a boon for them before they end up committed in a wrong marriage.

The divorce proceedings are hectic and expensive, also, none are interested to involve in settlement issues or problems with his or her spouse during a divorce. You need not undergo the emotional trauma of divorce when you separate from the partner you had been cohabitating. Any time you can part.

If the couple cannot afford a marriage but wants to be together sharing whatever they posses, the best option that comes to their minds is this easy new concept. Many couples do not believe in the institution of marriage, but believe that pure love for each other needs no laws and rules.

They need to pay less tax compared to what they had when they enjoyed the single status. Also, when you are cohabitating, your relationship is not bound by any law, be it legal or religious. All these advantages of cohabitation attract a youngster.

Many couples start to cohabitate with the purpose of marrying after a long time. But many critics say that cohabitating couples tend to prolong their marriage or end up breaking. They cannot, in most cases, enjoy a happy married life or simply, their lives after marriage will be less blissful than while they were cohabitating. That is, in a nutshell, it is difficult for a cohabitating couple to adjust to a normal, happy married life, even with the same partner.

To many critics, this concept is a weak tie-up to avoid the bonds of marriage and thus end up making and breaking relationships. Only those with the intention of having many partners and enjoy flirting in the pretext of finding their ideal match would choose such a fragile system of cohabitation. You live together with the psychological fear that it can break up any time or it is just a trial; so it never works, says critics. Thus they behave too immature in not having to end up marrying.

Initially, the couple plans to share all the expenses but it is likely that the woman would end up paying 60% of the expenses, doing all the cleaning and the cooking work, especially if they are college students.

Also, research shows that most of the men involved in such a live-in relationship have no intention or idea of marrying their partner, whereas most women seem to or plan to marry their partner in the long run. Most women seek more stable, secure and long-lasting relationship from her partner. This must be the reason why many feminists oppose this modern concept.

Unmarried cohabitants do not enjoy the same rights as married couples with respect to the property acquired during a relationship. Also, the distribution of property of one spouse to the other at death is inapplicable to unmarried cohabitants.

In India, though this concept is not common, we have the tendency to emulate the West. There have been many gossips about Bollywood actors living together without marrying and then splitting up before the public. But they are celebrities; for an ordinary Indian couple to start a live-in relationship might be a Herculean task; without the acceptance of the society, one might find it difficult to even rent a house or apartment without claiming themselves to be married. One just has to wait and see how the Indian society will treat such couples and even their kids!

To marry or live together without marrying is totally a matter of personal choice. In both cases, the most essential elements are happiness, mutual understanding, trust, adjustments and commitment. Without these elements no relationship can be successful.