n. | 1. | The act or state of dwelling together, or in the same place with another. |
2. | (Law) The living together of a man and woman in supposed sexual relationship. |
Noun | 1. | ![]() Synonyms: living together |
COHABITATION. Living together.
2. The law presumes that husband and wife cohabit, even after a
voluntary separation has taken place between them; but where there has been
a divorce a mensa et thoro, or a sentence of separation, the presumption
then arises that they have obeyed the sentence or decree, and do not live
together.
3. A criminal cohabitation will not be presumed by the proof of a
single act of criminal intercourse between a man and woman not married. 10
Mass. R. 153.
4. When a woman is proved to cohabit with a man and to assume his name
with his consent, he will generally be responsible for her debts as if she
had been his wife; 2 Esp. R. 637; 1 Campb. R. 245; this being presumptive
evidence of marriage; B. N. P. 114; but this liability will continue only
while they live together, unless she is actually his were. 4 Campb. R. 215.
5. In civil actions for criminal conversation with the plaintiff's
wife, after the husband and wife have separated, the plaintiff will not in
general be entitled to recover. 1 Esp. R. 16; S. C. 5 T. R. 357; Peake's
Cas. 7, 39; sed vide 6 East, 248; 4 Esp. 39.