Unmarried couples in England and Wales could gain new inheritance and financial rights

When Amelia's fiancé died suddenly in his 20s, she faced not only grief but also a legal and financial nightmare. The couple had been together for over seven years and shared a business, but because they were unmarried and he had no will, his parents inherited most of his assets. Amelia found herself in a legal battle with them, losing not only personal items like his clothes and CDs but also her share of savings intended for their wedding.

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I lost him, and then I lost everything we'd ever built together.

"I lost him, and then I lost everything we'd ever built together," Amelia said. She felt her relationship "meant nothing" and that her fiancé was being "ripped away from me again." The experience cost her nearly £10,000 in legal fees, and while she kept their house as joint tenants, she now has to pay his half of the mortgage.

Amelia's ordeal has prompted some friends to take out wills and life insurance, as many wrongly assume cohabiting couples have automatic legal rights. Currently, unmarried couples in England and Wales have few protections if they separate or one partner dies without a will. This could change, however, as the Ministry of Justice has launched a 10-week consultation on proposals that would grant surviving partners inheritance rights in certain circumstances and the ability to claim a lump sum in case of a breakup.

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It felt like he was being ripped away from me again, every time something else was taken.

These potential changes, if enacted, would represent a significant shift in legal protections for cohabiting couples. Countries like Sweden and Australia already have similar laws. Campaign groups are hopeful the proposals will help those widowed or trapped in abusive relationships. However, questions remain about the necessity of new laws when marriage and civil partnerships exist, and how such a system would function, including opt-out possibilities.

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Everyone just assumed that I was entitled to everything.