Risks To Cohabiting Couples Without Wills

Latest poll shows that most cohabiting couples are unaware of the risks they face without a valid Will in place.

A recent survey has established that 68% of cohabiting couples were not aware of what happens to their estate if they died without a valid will being in place.

Cohabiting couples do not have an automatic entitlement to inherit from each other – irrespective of how long they have been cohabiting or even if they have children together.

These were the poll findings:

• 32% believed their estate would automatically pass to their partner;

• 17% were not aware in any way what would happen;;

• 11% had never given it any thought.

• 8% believed their friends would inherit from them.

If you die without a valid Will in place, then you are deemed to have died ‘’intestate’’ and the rules concerning intestacy will dictate how your estate must then be distributed.

Spouses, civil partners, and blood relatives are taken into consideration usually at the expense of surviving cohabitees causing them significant financial distress.

Common law marriage is a concept that ceased to be recognised in law a very long time ago.

It is essential then to have an up-to-date Will in place, because even if a property is owned as Joint Tenants, meaning the surviving co-owner would automatically own the property upon the death of the other co-owner, this would not take into consideration the other assets of the deceased person which could well end up being distributed to family members that were not even in touch or close to the deceased.

Thy Will Be Done are will writing experts and would be happy to help put a will in place for you today. Go to our contact page to arrange a free consultation.