Q. I am 83 years old and have been a widow for 5 years. I’ve dated a few men now and then. Recently, a man I’ve dated several times has suggested that we move in together and take care of each other. Is there anything wrong with this?
A. Um…..well…….er….How should I know? <Sigh>. I suppose though, that you want to know if there are any legal concerns when two adults decide to live together. The answer is qualified “no.” However, if you are going to buy property together or otherwise put assets into joint names, then you should sit down with your attorney and discuss it. Keep in mind that if you put assets in a survivorship mode then the survivor will own all of those assets to the exclusion of the children or beneficiaries of the one who passed on first. Also, it’s probably a good idea to make sure that there’s a clear written understanding of what personal property is yours and what is his. You can easily do that simply by making a list of who owns what and having both of you sign it. That way, there will not be any confusion over who owns what. This will definitely help to reduce friction with each other’s families.