Why Unmarried Couples Need Estate Planning to Protect Inheritance and Medical Rights
By
Robert Powell, CFP - Retirement, Senior Editor
Summary
Estate planning attorney Harry Margolis warns that unmarried couples lack the automatic legal protections that marriage provides, meaning partners may not inherit assets, make medical decisions, or have funeral rights without proper estate planning documents. The article emphasizes that estate planning is critical for unmarried partners to avoid costly legal mistakes and ensure their wishes are honored.
Source
bskyWhy Unmarried Couples Need Estate Planning to Protect Inheritance and Medical Rightsbit.lyKey quotes
· 3 pulledUnmarried couples who assume their longtime partner will automatically inherit assets or make medical decisions during an emergency could be making a costly mistake.
Margolis said unmarried partners generally do not receive the legal protections that marriage automatically provides, making estate planning documents far more than a formality.
Without them, a surviving partner could lose inheritance rights, decision-making authority, and even the ability to participate in funeral arrangements.
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