What rights do common law partners have if one partner dies?

In England and Wales unmarried couples do not have the same legal rights as married couples or civil partners when one partner dies. If a partner dies without making a will, the surviving unmarried partner will not inherit anything under intestacy rules.

Unless the deceased partner made specific arrangements in their will, the surviving partner has no automatic right to receive an interest or stay in the home owned solely by their ex-partner.

Unmarried partners generally have no automatic rights to their deceased partner’s pension or life insurance benefits unless specifically named as beneficiaries.

Unmarried couples cannot inherit their partner’s state pension.