Should couples who are living together consider a Civil partnership ?

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Many couples choose to live together rather than marry and there are many reasons why you might prefer to do this but did you know that by doing this you may forfeit your legal status as a couple ?

So, if you do not wish to marry then a Civil Partnership may be the answer.

Couples who enter into a Civil Partnership are regarded in the same way as a married couple in the eyes of the law. The position of civil partners in relation to financial arrangements mirrors that of spouses. 

The laws governing wills, administration of estates and family provisions applies to civil partners in the same way as to spouses. 

Although we rarely like to consider what will happen when a life partner dies it is worth discussing the financial position.  When a person dies without a valid will their property must be shared out according to certain rules.  These rules are called intestacy.

Only married couples or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit under the rules of intestacy.

Cohabiting partners who are neither married nor in a civil partnership cannot inherit under these rules.

​Food for thought.