Advice for unmarried couples to protect property inheritance

The advice comes from Mary McAneny, a solicitor at Worcestershire law firm mfg Solicitors.

According to the solicitors, it is important for cohabiting couples to understand what stake they hold in their property, especially if they are living as "tenants in common".

When couples own property as "joint tenants", both parties have equal stakes.

Upon the death of a partner, their share passes to the surviving owner by right of survivorship.

Yet, "tenants in common" can hold unequal shares and specify who inherits their portion in a will.

This enables them to protect their loved ones from distressing situations should they die.

Miss McAneny said: "There must be an increased awareness that if you own a property with your partner as tenants in common and decide to then leave your share of that property when you die, to someone else such as a sibling or child, your partner may be forced to sell the property for the sibling or child to receive their inheritance, unless you make provisions to protect your partner in a Will."

Further information shared by Miss McAneny covers individuals who solely own property while having a cohabiting partner.

Such partners have no legal inheritance rights.

Ms McAneny added: "If you want to protect a partner and see them continuing to live in or inherit the property if you die, it is imperative a Will is put in place."

Unmarried couples must understand that under the intestacy rules, their partners do not automatically inherit from their estate.

These rules determine the inheritance flow if there's no will in place.

Ms McAneny said: "More than anything, it is important everyone understands how they hold their property and how to protect this asset for their loved ones, by taking advice from a solicitor and putting a Will in place."

For further advice get in touch with the solicitors via their website

The firm has offices in Kidderminster, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Birmingham, Ludlow and Telford.