Rights after 27 years of cohabitation?

Questioner

Since 1995 I (Dutch) have been living with a Portuguese woman. She does not want to get married and has no interest in a cohabitation agreement. We still share the costs of housing and living. Everything is also separated from a tax perspective. She recently took up residence in Portugal. The apartment where we live is hers. She sometimes talks about selling this. If she were to decide to do this, what rights do I have after 27 years?

Lawyer

If you have been living together for 27 years and do not have a cohabitation contract, then in principle you are not protected by the law of marriage. However, there is a possibility that you as a partner can claim a right to compensation if you have invested in your partner's assets. This means that if you have contributed to the financing or improvement of your partner's apartment, you may be entitled to compensation for these contributions if your partner decides to sell the apartment. For example, if you contributed to the renovation of the apartment, you may be entitled to compensation for this investment. The right to compensation can only be applied if there is a clear agreement between you and your partner about the investment and if you can demonstrate that you have actually contributed to your partner's assets. This can be done, for example, by means of bank statements and receipts. To claim compensation, you can engage a lawyer who specializes in family law and cohabitation. He or she can advise you on your legal position and help you claim compensation when selling the apartment.