Fast FAQs

I've been with my partner for years, but we're not married. Do I need to make a will?

If you and your partner are not married or legally united in a civil partnership, your partner will not be entitled to any of your assets when you die - no matter how long your relationship has been - unless you make a will.

If you die intestate and have children, your estate will go to them, equally. If one of your children pre-deceases you, their share will go to their children, divided equally between them. If you have no children, your estate will go to your parents, equally. If you have no parents, everything goes to your brothers and sisters, equally. If any of your brothers and sisters pre-decease you, their share goes to their children, divided equally. If you have no brothers or sisters, your estate goes to your grandparents, equally. If you have no grandparents, your estate goes to your aunts and uncles. If an aunt or uncle pre-deceases you, their share goes to their children, again divided equally.

Even if you die leaving no children, parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandparents, your assets still won't go to your partner. On your death they will instead pass to the Crown, the Duchy of Cornwall or the Duchy of Lancaster, depending on where you live.

So it is vital that you - and your partner - make a will in these circumstances. Take advice.

Home | Site Map

Call us on: 0191 211 7777