Should we bother to Marry ?

poseidon1

elsien said:

I have seen it from the other side where a long-term partner of 28 got thrown out of the house immediately after his partner’s death by the children. He had put a lot of money into the house, but could not face or record trying to prove his beneficial interest. Never presume that anyone will do the “right” thing. 

My other question would be what would you want to happen with regards to your partner If the house he has the life interest becomes unsuitable for any reason and he needs (or wants)  to downsize? Would he be tied to a property but no longer works because he can’t afford to move anywhere else?
And who pays all the maintenance with the house while he’s living there but doesn’t own it ?
It’s these practicalities that tend to cause problems after death and that you need to be discussing as an eventuality now, which ever route you go down.

A carefully drafted IPDI trust addresses all the concerns you highlight.

Such trusts and interest in possession  trusts generally, have adequately catered for these situations for many decades now. Its not new, merely needs a competent adviser with appropriate drafting skills and ability to properly guide the family going forward.

What is a growing problem is this valuable estate planning tool being rolled out by incompetent advisers, to families who haven't the faintest idea what they are doing or what is expected of them.

The OP here compounds potential problems in future by failing to marry her partner.

elsien

I agree a trust can help with this. I think my point was more asking whether the OP has had any of the conversations with the partner so they both know what to expect?  

Cobbler_tone

We are getting married next week. She owns the property, I have the better pension. At the moment I could technically end up homeless and she wouldn't qualify for a spousal pension. Didn't plan on it but tidies things up...and a nice day out.

silvercar

Cobbler_tone said:

We are getting married next week. She owns the property, I have the better pension. At the moment I could technically end up homeless and she wouldn't qualify for a spousal pension. Didn't plan on it but tidies things up...and a nice day out.

Congratulations!

don’t forget to add your anniversary to your calendar, or you could be looking at divorce proceedings

Cobbler_tone

silvercar said:

Cobbler_tone said:

We are getting married next week. She owns the property, I have the better pension. At the moment I could technically end up homeless and she wouldn't qualify for a spousal pension. Didn't plan on it but tidies things up...and a nice day out.

Congratulations!

don’t forget to add your anniversary to your calendar, or you could be looking at divorce proceedings

I have commissioned an oil painting of our dog with the wedding date on as a gift. This doubles up as a constant reminder of the date.