Estate Planning for Couples Who Are Not Legally Married

Estate Planning for Couples Who Are Not Legally Married

There is something you need to know if you and your partner are not legally married. You can’t expect California state law to treat two people who are cohabiting the same way that it does a married couple when it comes to succession. As a result, if you don’t plan on getting married anytime soon, you need to think about the effect this will have on your estate planning. After all, you want your partner to be well taken care of if something happens to you.

How California Estate Laws Differ for Married and Unmarried Couples

When two people are married and one spouse dies, the other spouse has inheritance and property rights that automatically go into effect. This is not the case when there is not a legal union between the two individuals. However, this does not mean an unmarried partner is entirely without recourse.

In fact, as long as the petition is filed promptly, California law may even help an unmarried survivor to enforce verbal contracts that were made when both parties were alive. The term for this type of case is a Marvin petition.

Estate Planning in California to Avoid Complications

Of course, rather than relying on the ability to win such a case in court, the best way to make sure the person you love receives an inheritance is to fill out your estate planning documentation properly now. The estate planning attorneys at Petrov Law Firm in San Diego and Chula Vista would be happy to help you prepare your documents properly. To get started today, call 619-344-0360.