do i need a will?

[CiderMonkey]

I've bought a house with my boyfriend. We do not have children yet. If I died I would want him to have everything. Do you think we need a will? We don't really have much and our families all really get on.

[Whickerman]

Where there's a Will, there's a family...

Your boyfriend would have no right to your posessions - including your half of your house, even though he owns the other half - unless you make a will. Your next of kin will have automatic claim, and even if they decided to give him your share he'd probably be taxed on it. It's even possible he'd be forced to sell the house so that your share can be realised for probate. Make a will - takes a couple of hours with a solicitor and gives a lifetime of peace of mind.

[Catso]

Yes, make a will. You both should. You don't know how the families are going to 'get on' in the future. Get it down in writing. It should only be about �50 if it's simple.

[vehelpfulguy]

our families really get on.................

It is surprising how families can STOP getting on when there is a will and money around.

When my Grandmother died about 20 years ago there was an almighty row about the will and two of her sisters never spoke again till they died.

(Basically she had five sisters and left her money too all of them.

After she had died, but BEFORE the will was read, one of the other sisters died.

Some people said the surviving husband (of the dead sister) should get a share because when my Grandmother died was the sister was still alive

Others said he should NOT get a share as the sister was dead when the WILL was read.

Seems no matter how you word your will....

[tiebreaker]

i have also bought a house with my partner but we bought it as tenants in common this means that whats mine is mine says for intant if i put half down this will be mine and what is his belongs to him. but i have also made a will to protect myself and the people i want to leave it to. you owe it to yourself and the person you live with and then you can have peace of mind the rest of you life.

[Eve]

Check if you own it as joint tenants or tenants in common, your solicitor should be able to confirm and you're likely to have specified this on your puchase.

If joint tenants if one of you dies the survivor gets the house, if tenants in common it goes in accordance with your will (depending on liabilities, debts etc...) or intestacy rules if no will (probably your parents if you have no kids).

It's always a good idea to have a will in any event, get it drawn up properly, stored safely (ie with a solicitor) and traceable so it's findable when you die and review it and change if necessary on any important events such as having children or financial gains and anything else significant.

If you marry it becomes invalid (think this is still the case)! You would need to draw another one up.

[dancecaller]

I read (in a Dick Francis book) that you should register your will by sending it to the probate office at Somerset House.
Don't know if that is still true (haven't done it)

[antiguru]

If you die without a Will there is a really dull procedure your survivors have to go through to the claim your estate which is lengthy and bureaucratic. Even if your families agree on everything and no-one contests your boyfriend�s claim it will still take time and may feel a bit bewildering.

Definitely draw up a Will. It may be that at this stage all you need is the DIY version from WHSmith for �20 and you can get a more complex version that is more future-proof in a few years when you have more of an estate and/or children.