Unmarried couples and last wishes

A ccording to the National Institutes of Health, upwards of 70% of people live together before they get married. While combining households and reducing living expenses makes sense from a financial perspective, research further shows that the longer couples live together without marrying, the less likely they are to ever say, “I do.”

Those who say they “don’t need a piece of paper” to feel committed to each other should consider that the “paper” is a binding legal document that entitles them to specific rights, protections and responsibilities. In short, the law treats unmarried couples differently than married ones.

Cohabitating partners have no automatic rights when it comes to healthcare decisions, finances or inheritance. There isn’t a legal presumption that one partner can step in during an emergency.

Power of attorney is a critical tool. Without it, your partner may not be able to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Instead, those responsibilities could fall to family members—who may not share your views. 

Unfortunately, in many cases involving long-term relationships that were never legally formalized through marriage, I’ve seen situations where relatives step in and override a partner’s last wishes.

Whether a couple has tied the knot or not, having the appropriate documents in place provides clarity, protection and peace of mind. I can help draw up the ones to best safeguard your unique situation.

Lastly, on a personal note, I’m happy to share that my practice recently expanded within the same building—six years to the day we moved in. I want to thank the loyal clients I’ve had the privilege to serve over the past 20-plus years. Your trust has made this growth possible.

Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law is located at 25800 North Depot Street, Suite 102, in Olmsted Falls. Call 440-782-5051 or visit OlmstedOhioLaw.com for more information.