Abstract
The “Committed Intimate Relationship” (CIR) is a sui generis doctrine that for decades has been a bedrock of family law in the state of Washington. Succinctly, a CIR arises when two unmarried people, under certain circumstances, can have their community-like property divided in a just and equitable manner as if they were married. Courts define CIRs as “stable, marital-like relationship[s] where both parties cohabit with knowledge that a lawful marriage between them does not exist.” Property acquired during the CIR mirrors that of property acquired during a marriage in that it is presumed to be community-like.5 Grounded in equity, the CIR prevents one party from unjust enrichment at the expense of the other after years of toiling together in a relationship akin to marriage.
Keywords
Long Distance Relationships, Committed Intimate Relationship, Family Law, Washington State