DP and I unmarried how do we protect ourselves?

[PreHeatedOven]

We have 2 DC, we want next of kin and medical power of attorney. We need wills too and for it to cost as little as possible.

Google has baffled me completely!

DP has PR since he is on the birth certificate

I have no idea how to make sure we are protected should the worst happen.
Help please!
I would be most grateful.
Many thanks

Do I need lasting power of attorney or medical? It is different? Google is a minefield!

DP and I are unmarried, we did Willaid last year www.willaid.org.uk , the solicitor was able to clear up a lot of our concerns and all the money went to charitiy. It cost £125 and was well worth it. Only available in November.

Thanks for that info.
Sadly I don't have £125 will have to save for that.
Is there any other way?

To ask a silly question, why not just get married??

You don't need power of attorney to be treated as next of kin as it is not actually a legal term - have a look at this explanation from the Royal Free Hospital with a form you can fill in and carry to show who you want to be your next of kin.

You do need wills to deal with any property, and to nominate guardians for your DCs. It is currently Will Aid month and you may be able to get a solicitor or will-writer to draw one up for you for a charity donation of less than £125.

You can also get DIY will-writing kits which would be better than nothing, but if you make a mistake it could cause legal problems and further expense.

Marriage is probably the easiest and simplest way to do it.

And by that I don't mean a full on wedding.

Thread in chat on it - I will go find

Sorry for mass posting but here you go

You cannot become next of kin other than by marriage. Most institutions will accept a non-marital/CP partner as the same as NOK, but if you find yourself dealing with one which doesn't, you have no legal right to insist. But a power of attorney should however cover nigh on all circumstances.

You also need to check that you are nominated as recipient of any insurance that pays out after death, and that priority ownership is clear.

There is no way to secure the spousal exemptions to IHT other than by marriage.

"priority" sorry - should be "property".

This is different in Scotland to England/Wales, so if you are Scottish then take that into account.

Other than that, if you intend for this arrangement to be lifelong then you only need two witnesses at the registry office to be married with all the next of kin benefits that incurs.

you could try a DIY kit such as
www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Will-Testament-Kit-Richard/dp/190405353X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320668433&sr=1-2

Tricky one.
We will do wills and get those forms regarding next of kin and the power of attorney.

I want to be married but I don't have £125 or whatever it is to go to the registry office currently

It's £77 in our authority to marry at register office.

That said- even if married, you should till make out a will when you can afford to.

It was £150 for our 2 wills, called mirror wills I believe.