What happens to my partner if I Die?

Although you don’t have the same legal rights as a married couple, there are steps you can take to make sure your partner is protected when you die. By simply making a Will, you can make sure that your partner can inherit whatever you want to leave them.

What happens when a cohabiting partner dies in the UK?

Many cohabiting couples still believe that their rights are protected by ‘common law’, however, in the UK, this does not exist. This means that when there are cohabitation disputes or when one of the cohabiting partners dies, the other can be left shocked and surprised by their lack of rights.

Can a couple be financially linked if they are not married?

Couples that aren’t married or in a civil partnership can still be financially linked if they share certain assets which means that one partner’s bad credit can affect the other partner. Find more on that here.

What happens if you live with your partner but are not married?

The 18 million or so unwed couples who live together face some key differences from their married counterparts in the eyes of the law. For example, if your employer happens to provide health insurance to your partner, the amount your company contributes is taxable to you (vs. being tax-free for a spouse).

What happens to an unmarried couple when their partner dies?

Very few people are aware that their automatic entitlement is nothing at all if they are unmarried and their partner dies intestate. Even married partners are left in difficulty because of the archaic nature of intestacy law. This is an area that certainly appears to be in need of urgent reform.

What happens to an unmarried partner in the UK?

Despite the rise of cohabiting couples in the UK, there is still confusion surrounding an unmarried partner’s rights after their other half has died. Many cohabiting couples still believe that their rights are protected by ‘common law’, however, in the UK, this does not exist.