They have few legal and financial rights if their partner dies and could end up losing their home, as one woman discovered when her beloved partner and father of her son Theo, 10, died suddenly in May.
Michelle Tucker, 53, and long-term partner Steve Douglas lived together for 11 years but were not married when he died suddenly of atherosclerosis aged just 57. Heartbreakingly, their wedding was planned for August.
Michelle, who works in the public sector, had no idea just how many difficulties this was going to cause.
Michelle and Steve bought a house in north London in 2016 and had a different amount of shares in the property to reflect how much capital they put in. They even drew up a legal document, a Declaration of Trust, to protect themselves. “If one of us died the other person could reside in the house rent free until their death, with the respective shares distributed according to our wills,” said Michelle.
Yet even that has not spared Michelle from the alarming prospect of being forced out of her home.
TAX MESS
Inheritance tax is the villain of the piece, as it so often is. It is charged at a punitive rate of 40 per cent on assets above £325,000.
When a spouse or civil partner dies, their partner can inherit their £325,000 nil-rate threshold, plus the £175,000 main residence allowance for family homes.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 11, 2022 من Sunday Express.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 11, 2022 من Sunday Express.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Birthday boy Jesurun gift-wraps points for the unbeaten Blades
JESURUN RAK-SAKYI struck twice on his 22nd birthday as unbeaten SHEFFIELD UNITED defeated LUTON 2-0 at home to move level on points with Championship leaders SUNDERLAND.
PALACE REIGN FOR KINGS OF THE ROAD
THE Slot machine paid out yet another jackpot as Liverpool dug deep for a priceless and gritty victory.
Punch & Judy next in line to be 'cancelled' fears veteran
HE'S been entertaining children and adults alike for six decades with his traditional Punch and Judy shows.
How Rick's traumatic childhood drove him to succeed
\"IT'S A desperately poignant way to sum up one's childhood. \"I remember being frightened all the time as a kid,\" recalls Rick. He traces the trauma to a grave tragedy in the family before he was even born.
Harry extends 'solo' trip without Meghan
PRINCE Harry has extended his solo trip abroad without wife Meghan, the Sunday Express has learned.
How Queen bagged her cheeky escapes
IN a lifetime of meeting the public, the late Queen famously used her handbag to secretly signal to her courtiers when she was ready to leave an event.
Trump's return to brush with death spot
A SECRET Service ring of steel surrounded Donald Trump last night as he prepared to hold a rally in the same spot where he was almost killed by an assassin three months ago.
Migrants perish as Cooper slams gangs
A TODDLER trampled to death in a small boat was among four migrants who died off the French coast yesterday.
‘Inspirational’ Kemi wins backing of US governor DeSantis
KEMI Badenoch's leadership bid has been endorsed by one of the US Republicans' most influential figures.
Leadership hopeful fired up by Reagan
JAMES Cleverly wants to bring the spirit of Ronald Reagan to the Tory Party as he enters a critical week in his bid to become leader, he tells the Sunday Express today.