The onus rests squarely on the shoulders of cohabiting couples to protect themselves because they will find no help from the law

The late twentieth and early twenty-first century has seen the dramatic rise in unmarried couples living together in a long-term relationship. Marriage is seen by many as an outdated institution that is no longer relevant in today's society. However, there is an area where being married can have a huge financial impact, and this is upon death.

On death, the rights of unmarried partners are completely at odds with those of a married spouse
or civil partner (spouse hereafter refers to either).
A married spouse is entitled under the intestacy rules to the deceased's entire estate if there are no children. A spouse has the highest rights to provision fro...

Jean Yves

IICJ

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