Couples in the twenty first century are increasingly choosing to live together, sometimes for years, before they get married. Sometimes, they do not even choose to get married. While an unmarried couple may have a relationship just as loving as a married couple, they are not always afforded the same rights under the law as their married counterparts.
Healthcare
If a couple is married and one person falls ill, the other has certain visitation rights. They are also the person healthcare officials might look to in order to make medical decisions if their partner is unable to make them. However, unmarried couples are not always afforded those rights. If one partner falls ill or gets hurt, their significant other will not be given the same visitation rights as family members. They also will not be able to make decisions regarding the welfare of their loved one because they are not related.
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What can be done about healthcare?
An estate plan can include a health care power of attorney. For an unmarried couple, it allows their partner to be the one to make any medical decisions if they are unable. It is also a good idea for a married couple to have as well since it can make any wishes known. A durable general power of attorney can also give couples the opportunity to give each other limited health care powers.
Inheritance
We have previously talked about the importance of a Will and it could be especially important if a couple is not married but in a long term relationship. Depending on the situation, whether there are parents or children involved, a spouse can potentially inherit everything under North Carolina estate planning laws. If a couple is not married, they could potentially inherit nothing without a Will.
What can be done about inheritance?
If you are in a long term relationship with someone but are not married and maybe don’t plan to get married, you can see a Durham estate planning attorney to create a Will naming your partner a beneficiary. This would ensure that your partner would inherit assets from your estate and wouldn’t be left with nothing.