Legal Definitions - POSSLQ

POSSLQ stands for Person Of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters.

This term, primarily used by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to an adult who lives in the same household as another adult of the opposite sex, but is not related to them by marriage. It specifically applies to individuals who are not legally married to each other, even if they share a romantic relationship. The purpose of this classification is to count and categorize household compositions beyond traditional family structures.

• Example 1: Sarah, a female graphic designer, and Mark, a male software engineer, decide to rent a two-bedroom apartment together to split costs in a high-rent city. They are platonic friends and have no romantic involvement.

  Explanation: Sarah and Mark fit the definition of POSSLQ because they are adults of opposite sexes sharing living quarters (the apartment) and are not married to each other.

• Example 2: After college, Emily and David, who have been close friends since childhood, purchase a duplex together. Each lives in their own unit, but they share common expenses like property taxes and maintenance for the building.

  Explanation: Emily and David are considered POSSLQs because they are of opposite sexes, share a common residential property (living quarters), and are not legally married to one another, despite their shared ownership and expenses.