The significance of not having a Will if you are not married

Regardless of personal opinions and reasons for deciding to marry or not to marry, the law simply does not recognise cohabiting couples when it comes to inheritance.  

Death is something which can be totally unexpected, and considering our own mortality is not a nice thing to do.  But making provisions in a Will for partners and children is something which is so important, and gives great peace of mind once done.

The laws of intestacy are laws which dictate what should happen with our assets should we die without a Will.  If an unmarried partner dies without leaving a Will, their surviving partner would not be entitled to anything under the laws of intestacy, regardless of the length of the relationship. 

The laws of intestacy do make financial provisions for the children of the deceased but the situation can become very complicated.  Trust situations arise, claims can arise over the estate, expenses can run high and all could be avoided with a simple Will. 

How Neves can help

The Private Client department at Neves deals with all types of family arrangements and is able to give comprehensive advice regarding your Wills. We would urge everyone with an asset, no matter how small and regardless of their age, to make a Will in order to protect their estate for their loved ones.

Get in touch by calling 0330 0945 500, email info@nevesllp.co.uk or complete our Contact Form and we'll get back to you.