02/11/2026
You’ve lived with your partner for 20 years. They die without a Will. Do you inherit anything?
In England and Wales, the answer could be nothing at all.
There is no such thing as a common law husband or wife. If you weren’t married or in a civil partnership and there’s no Will, the law doesn’t give you an automatic right to inherit. However long you’ve been together.
Some things may still come to you, like a home you owned as joint tenants, joint bank accounts, or pensions where you were named. But if the house was in their name only, you could be relying on their family’s goodwill to stay in your own home.
Swipe through to see who inherits instead, what you can do about it, and the simple steps that protect the person you’ve built your life with.
Not married and no Will? Book a free Will review with one of our estate planning consultants. No pressure, just a friendly chat. The link is in our bio.
This content is not legal or financial advice. Estate planning is complex.
