在这个分分合合司空见惯的时代，很多人觉得非婚同居也是一种不错的生活方式，唯一的不足就是不受法律保护，于是有些短期内不打算结婚的同居者会选择签一份no-nup agreement（不婚协议）。

No-nup agreement is a legal agreement made by two people who intend to live in a committed relationship but not to marry that defines the terms of their living arrangement and the disposition of their sole or shared property in the event of their parting or death.

不婚协议是两个想忠于感情关系但并不打算步入婚姻的人之间签署的法律协议。这份协议规定了他们同居生活的各种条款以及万一分手或死亡的财产分配。

By agreeing to a no-nup, it is clear that they are sure that they share the lifestyle choice to live together and not to marry. But they don't trust one another enough to feel secure about the last chapter of their relationship.

显然，同意签署不婚协议的两个人确定他们愿意选择同居的生活方式但并不打算结婚。他们对彼此的信任还不足以步入更深一层关系。

For these younger couples who want to know what their personal futures will look like, a "no-nup" is a way of planning in these times of uncertainty. For older couples, many of whom are choosing to live with a new partner after a failed first or even second marriage, a contract serves another purpose. At later stages of life, the need to protect yourself and preserve assets for your kids is just good planning.

对于那些想知道自己未来模样的年轻情侣来说，不婚协议是一种应付不确定性的筹划方法。而对于那些老年情侣来说，他们当中很多人都是在一段或两段失败的婚姻后选择和一个新的爱人住在一起，而这份协议也另有他意。在生命的晚年，他们需要保护自己以及给孩子留下财产，因而签订不婚协议对这些人来说是很不错的主意。

（中国日报网英语点津 实习生马歅卓 编辑：陈丹妮）