结婚、离婚与同居：这些决定会如何影响你的财产与继承？Marriage, Divorce, and Cohabitation: How These Choices Affect Your Assets and Inheritance

最近我们在接待咨询时，发现很多人对“结婚、离婚、离婚后继续同住”等关系状态的法律含义非常模糊。生活里看似“随性”的选择，实际上可能带来非常重大的法律和税务后果。

Lately we’ve noticed many clients are unclear about the legal implications of relationship statuses like marriage, divorce, or living together after divorce. What seems casual in daily life can have significant legal and tax consequences.

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问题解析 Problem Analysis

有些人认为结婚就是“领个证”，离婚就是“协议搞定”，事情很简单；也有人离婚后仍与前伴侣同住、育有子女，内心仍把对方当配偶。但在法律上——尤其是在美国——结婚和离婚会触发截然不同的权利与义务，包括财产分配、继承顺序以及税务待遇。

Some people treat marriage as a mere formality and divorce as a simple paperwork matter; others continue living with an ex and behave like spouses. Legally—especially in the U.S.—marriage and divorce trigger very different rights and obligations, affecting property division, inheritance rights, and tax treatment.

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解决方案 Solutions

如果你正面临结婚、离婚或离婚后继续同居的情形，请务必提前规划并咨询律师：

• 在结婚前，考虑签订婚前协议（prenup）来明确各自权利；

• 在离婚时，认真处理财产分割与抚养安排，并记录清楚双方意愿；

• 若离婚后仍同住或共同抚养子女，需通过法律文件明确财产权、遗产继承安排和紧急代理人任命。

If you are planning to marry, divorce, or continue cohabiting after divorce, seek legal planning in advance:

• Before marriage, consider a prenuptial agreement to clarify rights and expectations;

• During divorce, carefully document property division and custody arrangements;

• If you continue to live with an ex or co-parent after divorce, use legal documents to specify property rights, inheritance arrangements, and emergency decision-makers.

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风险提醒 Risk Reminder

不要以为“我们还是像夫妻一样”就自动拥有配偶权利。举例来说，如果双方名义上已经离婚但未修改遗嘱或信托，去世时未作安排的一方，其前伴侣通常不享有法定继承权。另一面，随意结婚也可能把对方变成第一顺位继承人或遗嘱执行人，从而影响你希望的财产分配。

Don’t assume that “acting like spouses” confers spousal rights. For example, if you are legally divorced but haven’t updated your will or trust, your former partner typically won’t inherit by default. Conversely, marrying without planning can make a spouse a first-priority heir or executor, altering your intended distribution.

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律所小贴士 Law Firm Tips

在处理这些重大关系决策时，请多想一步并寻求专业帮助：

• 结婚前：讨论并记录财产分配意向，必要时签署婚前协议；

• 离婚时：把清晰的财产与继承安排写进离婚协议并更新遗嘱/信托；

• 离婚后同住或同养育孩子：用法律文件明确各自权利与义务，避免将来争议。

  
  

When facing these major relationship decisions, take one extra step and get professional help:

• Before marriage: discuss and document asset intentions; consider a prenup if appropriate;

• At divorce: put clear property and inheritance arrangements into your settlement and update wills/trusts;

• After divorce while cohabiting or co-parenting: use legal documents to define rights and duties to avoid future disputes.

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联系我们 Contact Us

熙承律师事务所（The Shi Law Group, PLLC）专注于家庭财富传承、遗产规划、信托、遗嘱、婚前协议与跨境资产规划等。我们为纽约州和新泽西州的华人家庭提供专业、细致且富有关怀的法律服务。若您在结婚、离婚或同居安排上有疑问，欢迎随时联系我们进行咨询与规划。

The Shi Law Group, PLLC focuses on family wealth transfer, estate planning, trusts, wills, prenuptial agreements, and cross-border asset planning. We provide professional, attentive, and compassionate legal services to Chinese families in New York and New Jersey. If you have questions about marriage, divorce, or cohabitation planning, please contact us for consultation.

📧 邮箱 Email: info@mshilaw.com

📞 电话 Phone: +1 (917) 720-6943

🏢 地址 Address: 500 Old Country Rd, Suite 302, Garden City, NY 11530

如需预约咨询，请通过电话、电子邮件或在我们网站上提交预约请求。我们将安排有相关经验的律师与您沟通。

To schedule a consultation, contact us by phone, email, or book through our website. We will arrange for an experienced attorney to speak with you.