To ask what we'd put down as our marital status?

[Elsalvador]

With DH for 20 years. Not married and I don't want to turn this a debate about whether we should be or not :)

Looking for life insurance quotes, and the marital status is either married, single, divorced, separated, widowed or civil partnership. None of these fit. What would you put? I don't know whether this affects the premium displayed. Does anyone know? Thanks so much in advance

[godmum56]

as well as premiums, there is the point about who gets the payout....if you are married then the payout, if not specifically earmarked to a person, goes into the estate. If you are not married and the payout is not specifically earmarked and no will, then there may be an issue around who is entitled to the money.

[SugarAndSpiceIsNice]

You are legally single irrespective of how you emotionally feel about your relationship.

If you lie in your application form about your marital status or about anything else, the insurance that you apply for will not be valid.

Premiums are likely to be cheaper for married couples but of course subject to individual circumstances.

[KellyABC]

@girlmom21

"Can't you put single?"

Well I always assumed not because of having been divorced. But maybe I can!?

[PrincessNikla]

@PattyPan

Sometimes they have an option for living with partner or common law but in the absence of anything like that, single. Just read single as unmarried rather than alone.

there is no such thing as 'common law partnership'

[Skeumorph]

I think things like separation are recognised for access to benefits etc? - so it must have some legal meaning I guess.

But I do't understand OP's confusion. Legally you are two single, unrelated people - it's obvious?

Unless it's not wanting to actually be faced with the fact that marriage/civil partnership etc actually is a real concrete different thing to not!!

[ClaudiaWankleman]

If the widow then remarried would they still be reported as a widow or a spouse?

It's self selecting, based on how the individual ticks their status. The data is derived from N years of self reported information, which is probably big enough to smooth out any inconsistencies in reporting.

[beautifullymad]

I keep trying to explain this to my friend who has cohabited for 25 years. She is single.

She says that they have made wills giving the other everything in the event of their death. But what she can't comprehend is inheritance tax applies as she is single. There are no legal definitions of cohabiting, no legal status as a common law wife. It doesn't exist in law.

In the tragic event of her DP dying she have to find 40% on all assets he leaves to her (after his 320k allowance). This will mean her having to sell her home. She is clueless.

The reason she give for not getting married is that they haven't got around to it.

Rant over.

Please get married or joined in civil partnership as it's so so complicated for the loved one left behind. You do it to protect them.

[PrincessNikla]

@ReviewingTheSituation

The odd thing on the form is 'separated' as until you're divorced, you're still married. I'm not sure 'separated' is a legal thing, but more than prepared to be corrected on that!

Interesting

A legal separation (judicial separation) does not end a marriage but relieves a couple of the obligation to cohabit. ... Conversely, a divorce ends the marriage, and a dissolution ends the civil partnership. Most people don't bother legally separating and choose instead to separate without recording it with the court.28 Sept 2018

Legal separation vs divorce - what's the difference? - Amicable
amicable.io/legal-separation-vs-divorce-whats-difference



www.gov.uk/separation-divorce
Ending your marriage
Get a divorce to officially end your marriage.

If you don’t want a divorce, you can:

get a legal separation so you can live apart without ending the marriage
annul the marriage if it counts as ‘defective’ or isn’t legally valid

[ThisIsStartingToBoreMe]

Hmm. I told my insurance company DH died, but I haven't specifically changed my marital status to widow. Would they really use that to avoid paying?

Yes they will certainly try to avoid paying out by using any means or excuse.

[PrincessNikla]

@ClaudiaWankleman

If the widow then remarried would they still be reported as a widow or a spouse?

It's self selecting, based on how the individual ticks their status. The data is derived from N years of self reported information, which is probably big enough to smooth out any inconsistencies in reporting.

isnt it "what you are now"
So before I got married, I was single
If my DH dies, I will be a widow
If I remarry, then I will be married

[ZoeTheThornyDevil]

@ReviewingTheSituation

The odd thing on the form is 'separated' as until you're divorced, you're still married. I'm not sure 'separated' is a legal thing, but more than prepared to be corrected on that!

"Separated" is a legal status. It acknowledges that you are still legally married, but that the marriage has broken down in practical terms and your finances and living situation are no longer to be treated as combined.

[Theeyeballsinthesky]

As many PP have said Your legal status is single so you put single

Curious as to why you even need to ask

[Dixiechickonhols]

Reviewingthesituation There is legal separation. It exists eg for couples with religious objection to divorce but never come across in real life. I can’t imagine it’s used much. It doesn’t mean split up and not divorced yet.
That’s one of my bugbears when people say he’s still technically married - it’s married or not. You’d be surprised how many people don’t divorce, live with someone else for 20 years, die no will and then shit hits the fan as wife inherits.

[Lougle]

Single. If one of you died, the other would have no automatic claim to their assets.

[RussianSpy101]

You’re both legally single.

[ClaudiaWankleman]

@PrincessNikla

But it is self reported - some people may tick the widowed box and some may tick single.

[MaudieandMe]

Single obviously.

It’s irrelevant whether you live together because unless you were married or in a contracted Civil Partnership, depending on the terms of the Insurance, he’s not automatically entitled to receive anything if a claim was to be made.

Therefore, you might want to think about why you’re buying life insurance and maybe look into a long term savings policy instead. instance.

[Piggy42]

Single.

[Dixiechickonhols]

I’ve checked and it’s £161 to legally register your partnership (same as price to marry) at my council that’s everything - admin fee, notice x2, appointment slot to do legal bit and a certificate of proof.
If you want to have your partnership legally recognised and tick partner on forms it’s there as an easy cheap option. Civil Partnership.
Not being goady genuine curiosity why people in partnerships wanting to be recognised as partners wouldn’t do this.

[JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue]

I've never understood why 'divorced' is an option on such forms. Either you are married, or you're no longer married (divorce has dissolved the marriage) in which case you're single again.

[Zazdar]

I've never understood why 'divorced' is an option on such forms. Either you are married, or you're no longer married (divorce has dissolved the marriage) in which case you're single again.

It might make a difference to the insurance company’s risk assessment model.

[Somebodylikeyew]

The answer to the OP is simple, but I’m finding this thread fascinating so I’m glad it’s digressing!

[PrincessNikla]

[quote ClaudiaWankleman]@PrincessNikla

But it is self reported - some people may tick the widowed box and some may tick single.[/quote]
Thats up to them, but what I put is the logical way of how it works

[thelegalitiesof]

DH means 'dear husband'. If you're not married, how can he be your husband??

[Octomore]

You're single. I'm not sure why you need to ask?