If you are, it’s not an unusual arrangement as cohabiting unmarried couples are now the fastest-growing family type in the UK, according to the ONS (Office of National Statistics).

So, if you are in one of these arrangements and don’t have a Will be aware that your partner will get absolutely nothing when you die.  It is a popular misconception that if a couple live together they will gain certain rights by being a ‘common law wife’ or a ‘common law husband’. There is no basis in English law for this. There is no such thing as a ‘common law husband or wife’ regardless of how long you’ve lived together.  So,. if you really love and care about your partner and you don’t want her to suffer financially when you pass away, act now and write your Will.

In summary

  • In 2018, there were 19.1 million families in the UK, an increase of 8% from 17.7 million in 2008.
  • The number of cohabiting couple families continues to grow faster than married couples and lone parent families, with an increase of 25.8% over the decade 2008 to 2018.
  • The number of same-sex couple families has grown by more than 50% since 2015, with more than four times as many same-sex married couple families in 2018 compared with 2015.
  • In 2018, there were 27.6 million households, an increase of 350,000 on the previous year and 1.7 million since 2008.
  • The number of people living alone in 2018 has surpassed 8 million, up from 7.7 million in the previous year, driven by increases in women aged 45 to 64 years and men aged 65 to 74 years.
  • In 2018, one in four young adults (3.4 million) aged 20 to 34 years were living with their parents.

If you’re interested in knowing more and in greater detail click here

Enfield Wills

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