In Switzerland, the term "concu­binage" or "de facto life partnership" refers to the cohab­i­tation of two persons of different or the same sex without a marriage certificate in a marriage-like community. People who live in a concu­binage do not enjoy the same social or legal protection as a married couple or a couple in a regis­tered partnership. However, they can protect themselves by concluding a concu­binage contract.