Did you know that without a Last Will and Testament the biggest problems can occur after a partner or parent’s death?
It is important to put a Will in place before death, to avoid risks of having your estate divided up against your wishes. This is especially true for unmarried couples and blended families.
Many people believe that a so-called ‘common law marriage’ confers the same legal protections as being legally married. This is not true.
Put simply, if you are not married, or have not entered into a civil partnership, and you die without a Will, your partner will not automatically inherit your estate. Regardless of if you were in a long-term and very loving relationship. Your partner could potentially be left with nothing.
Blended families are on the rise. National Divorce Rates have increased and it’s thought that around 40% of new marriages include at least one person who was previously married. This all suggest it’s becoming less likely for people to remain with their original partner their entire lives.
Many of those remarriages involve children who are entering the world of “steps”—stepmothers, stepfathers, step siblings, step-grandparents.
As our society evolves, it’s often necessary to refine existing laws to better reflect changes. That said, we all know it can take time for the legal system to catch up with new ways of living…
