There is a great deal of debate on the issue of cohabitation and how it affects divorce rates. Some argue that living together before getting married allows couples to get to know one another better and better prepare for married life. Others cite research to the contrary. A recent Chicago Tribune article refers to a March report from the National Center for Health Statistics, which was based on the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, showing that men and women who lived together before they got engaged were less likely to reach their 10th anniversary than those who didn't.

"Among men, 53% who cohabited before they got engaged made it to the 10th year of marriage, compared with 71% who moved in together after engagement and 69% who waited until marriage to live together. Results were similar for women: 55% of pre-engagement cohabiters made it to 10 years of marriage, compared with 66% who waited to move in until engagement and 65% who waited until marriage." One of the explanations offered for the disparity is the increased difficulty of getting out of a relationship once a couple is living together. The couple may not have made the decision to get engaged or get married, but living together creates a situation where they share financial obligations, assets, pets, and many other aspects of their lives. Couples may agree at the outset as to how things will be divided in the event of a split, and some may even put those decisions in writing in the form of cohabitation agreements (which can be enforced in Florida if they are properly drafted), but splitting up is much easier for couples that aren't living together.

With so many lifestyle entanglements a break-up for a couple that is living together can be seen as a "premarital divorce" according to  Wendy Manning, a sociology professor and co-director of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University. This raises the question of whether there would be more divorces if people were not choosing to live together before getting married. For some good questions to consider before moving in with your significant other check out the Chicago Tribune article here.