Did you know that your live-in female partner can request a restraining order against you, and get it? All she has to do is be willing to state that she “feels threatened.” You have no appeal, there is no trial, and you do not get to tell your side of the story. With a stroke of his pen, the judge will throw you out of your home and banish you to at least 1000′ away. If you’re lucky you’ll get to go and retrieve your clothes.
This can be your apartment, your house you build with your own hands, or even a dwelling that’s been in your family for five generations. Doesn’t matter. What matters is she “feels threatened.”
Even if she calms down and the retraining order expires, it will sit there, on your record forever, and any time you have to interface with officialdom, you’ll have to explain it.
Cohabiting is a fools game. I’m married, and actually pretty damn happy. But I got very, very lucky. I’d never do it again. All the legal power is in the woman’s hands, and if she gets mad, you’re doomed.
Lamont
