Does the Civil partnership protect the partner in the event of death?

(Received Idea)

SMS Conversation

A. Are you available on Saturday to celebrate our Civil partnership?

B. Ah, that's it, you're making official!! (Emoticon wink)

A. It's mainly to protect each other, and to have rights in case of big trouble.

B. Okay for Saturday!

But you're sure the Civil partnerships will be enough to keep you safe? (Query emoticon)

A. Yes!

It's better for estate, retirement, all that...

Received Idea

“In passing, I protect my partner in case of death.”

FALSE

SP Response

It's a common misconception!

Making a Civil partnership is not enough to keep your partner safe in the event of death.

The law does not grant your past partner any rights over your estate. He is not one of your heirs, unlike your children or your parents.

When you die, your partner will not be entitled to a survivor's pension either, that is to say, part of your pension. To be eligible, you must be married.

So how can you best protect your partner if you've been through?

In order for him to benefit from all or part of your estate, you must write a will. And if you want reciprocal protection, everyone has to write a will.

Be careful, if you have children in common or from a previous union, your will must respect their rights.

Know that, for everything you leave him by will, your partner is exempt from inheritance tax, that is to say exempt from tax on the transfer of wealth.

The partner may also apply for your death benefit. It's an allowance to cover the cost of a loved one's death. They will have to ask your health insurance fund, or your administration if you are a public servant.

Finally, if either you or you were the owner of the family home before the death, the surviving partner can stay there, at least for 1 year. You can specify the rules in a will.

Key Points

1/ Your surviving past partner has no rights to your estate. And he doesn't get a survivor's pension.

2/ To protect it, you must write a will. He will not pay inheritance tax.

3/ Your partner can claim the death capital.

4/ He may remain in the common dwelling after death, under certain conditions.