To ask someone to explain...

[hauntedvagina]

Why unmarried SAHM are always referred to on MN as being vulnerable financially?

Because their only real legal rights in a split is child maintenance. They aren’t entitled to spousal support generally and usually they have been out of the workplace for some time and would likely struggle finding a job that they have skills for, qualifications lapsed etc, works around childcare, pays enough to cover nursery and bills.
they are often not on the mortgage and are easily locked out of joint accounts/ earner can empty any account and change details at work for wages.
Usually sahm’s get housekeeping money from the earner and little extra to save. They are also not entitled to ex’s pension income and usually don’t have enough ni credits on their individual one due to long gaps in employment.

I'm sure more knowledgeable and experienced folks will be along to explain better soon, but my understanding is that - if unmarried - a SAHP is vulnerable if their relationship breaks down and their partner no longer wants to support them financially. That obtaining a legal order requiring their ex to continue funding them can be more complex if not married. That spouses can more easily make a legal claim to a share in their ex's property / assets in the event of marriage breakdown than an unmarried partner could, etc...

If you are married SAHM and your relationship breaks down, there will be a formal divorce process which divides up shared assets (e.g. the house and pensions). It may not be perfect but there are rules about how it works.

If you are an unmarried SAHM and your relationship breaks down, then you can be left with nothing. If the house is in exPs name, the mother of his children has no claim on it and can be thrown out on the streets. Child maintenance is the only thing she can claim from him.

So when you directly compare those two cases, the unmarried SAHM is more vulnerable.

And if you are unmarried you are not official next of kin to each other if anything serious happens and you will be liable to inheritance tax if one of you dies whereas spouses are not.

Simple - in most cases the unmarried SAHM is giving up her financial earning power and is relying on a man to support her without any legal protection in place. The protections marriage bring are a safety net if the man dies / leaves / throws her out.

This doesn't apply where the SAHM is independently wealthy of course.

Married = legally a financial unit. You split, what's his is half yours. Even if you're not even on the mortgage.

Unmarried = you're on your own love. You don't earn the cash? Doesn't matter that you're brining up HIS kids instead - he keeps the lot, bar maintenance. Fuck the fact you gave up your career.

Thanks, makes sense now.

And if you are unmarried you are not official next of kin to each other if anything serious happens and you will be liable to inheritance tax if one of you dies whereas spouses are not.

Had no idea about this.

I don't know what country you live in

The differences between married and single are explained on

Citizens Advice website

www.gov.uk

Money saving expert website