Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Please help - partner died no will

387 replies

TheAgileDuck · 06/01/2025 18:47

Hi All, I would really appreciate your help. My partner of 12 years died over Christmas. He was very ill and I was his carer (unofficially he didn’t claim carers allowance etc) We have lived together for 8 years in his fully paid for house. He has two children who he has not seen for 10 + years and other relatives still alive but again not spoken to in a very long time years and years.

he has died with no will. His family are asking me to leave the house I have called my home for 8 years as we were not married and I wasn’t paying any rent/maintenance officially. He always verbally promised me that I could stay in the house if he passed away until I died or if I choose to leave 30% of the value of house and rest to his children. However it turns out there is no will so none of the above is official.

do I have any right to stay in the house? Please note I am not on bills. I also have no other savings, so if I was kicked out I would effectively be made homeless. I haven’t worked in 8 years as his health was extremely poor and I looked after him and he had enough money to cover all bills.

I am not after any money from his bank accounts, his expensive jewellery and watches just a small bit of what was promised to me for so long. I have no money saved so getting a solicitor I think will be last resort but guessing it might have to be done.

I am totally devastated by his loss but also now by this situation which has come as such a shock after thinking I had some safety for my future.

please help if anyone has any advice

many thanks

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 06/01/2025 18:50

Sorry for your loss OP.

I'm afraid if there was no will then his family can indeed take the house. They're really awful people to do that.

wobblyweewoman · 06/01/2025 18:50

You must speak to a solicitor and get advice.
Why did you think he would leave you the house? Did he hint or imply or clearly tell you?
Is there a chance that he made a will but you just don't know where it is?
Sorry for your loss.

Lazarusc · 06/01/2025 18:51

I'm really sorry but legally you have no rights to his home. As he didn't leave a will, his children will directly inherit the property. You can check online for more information but I don't think you have any legal recourse.

Arlanymor · 06/01/2025 18:52

I’m sorry for your loss, but you need to get legal advice as if he died without a will then the laws of intestacy will apply, which prioritise immediate family members such as children or parents over a de facto partner.

LIZS · 06/01/2025 18:52

Are you in England? I fear your rights to stay are minimal without any will. See a solicitor asap as presumably you have possessions there and may have contributed to the household expenses.

ChristmasGrinch24 · 06/01/2025 18:52

I'm sorry but you have no legal rights to his home. It's correct that you'll need to move out.

Quitelikeit · 06/01/2025 18:53

Did he have anything at all in writing to you that you were allowed to remain in the house?

You need legal advice asap

Kitkat1523 · 06/01/2025 18:53

You have no rights….shit but that’s the law

Bob02 · 06/01/2025 18:53

Sorry you're fucked. If there's no will you aren't entitled to anything. Talk to shelter. Do a homeless application with your local authority.

TenderChicken · 06/01/2025 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Bob02 · 06/01/2025 18:54

You probably will be advised to stay in the property until the legally evict you.

CatsorDogsrule · 06/01/2025 18:54

Sorry, I was in a similar situation and had no recourse. Left with nothing and had to leave.

What country are you in, as there might be a nuance that helps you, but if England or Wales, his children inherit Intestate (without a Will)?

Floralnomad · 06/01/2025 18:55

Sorry for your loss @TheAgileDuck but I doubt you have a leg to stand on .

Hoppinggreen · 06/01/2025 18:56

I am very sorry for your loss, check with a Solicitor but i think you have no rights at all here

Soontobe60 · 06/01/2025 18:56

ThejoyofNC · 06/01/2025 18:50

Sorry for your loss OP.

I'm afraid if there was no will then his family can indeed take the house. They're really awful people to do that.

What makes you think they're awful? You don’t know why he didn't have any contact with his children, how he managed to have his own house or why the OP didnt have a home of her own from before they met.

Ohnonotmeagain · 06/01/2025 18:56

Ok. You’ll need a solicitor. I am not one but have recently been dealing with contentious probate so have picked up some bits

you may be entitled to something if you are dependent. If you have contributed to house maintenance, improvements etc you may have a claim.

did he have pensions or life insurance? Beneficiaries are usually at the discretion of the fund so make sure you contact them and get yourself listed as dependent.

also ask about your rights to stay in the house. They may need to formally evict you which will take a while.

what are the family like? Would the discuss letting you stay there? Paying rent?

snoozeysleepy · 06/01/2025 18:56

OP, DO NOT move out of the house. There is a claim you can bring to get something from the estate, I will PM you later this evening. I'm a solicitor and specialise in disputed estates.

ThejoyofNC · 06/01/2025 18:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Why the hell do you feel the need to be so nasty? Her partner just died and she's about to be homeless. Have some compassion FFS.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 06/01/2025 18:58

Ah, what a way to compound a difficult time, I'm sorry for your loss.

Have you been his carer throughout or have you been able to work etc? Was it a long illness?

Ohnonotmeagain · 06/01/2025 19:00

snoozeysleepy · 06/01/2025 18:56

OP, DO NOT move out of the house. There is a claim you can bring to get something from the estate, I will PM you later this evening. I'm a solicitor and specialise in disputed estates.

Just in case this gets missed…

definitely check you do not have a claim- I agree with this poster and think you do.

take proper advice not mumsnet advice.

TheAgileDuck · 06/01/2025 19:00

snoozeysleepy · 06/01/2025 18:56

OP, DO NOT move out of the house. There is a claim you can bring to get something from the estate, I will PM you later this evening. I'm a solicitor and specialise in disputed estates.

Thank you very much for your help I really do appreciate it

OP posts:
Patienceinshortsupply · 06/01/2025 19:01

What a horrendous situation to find yourself in.

I have no advice but I'm sorry for your loss.

greencrab · 06/01/2025 19:01

Are you certain there is no will? Have you checked house for one? Asked bank/solicitors? Just hoping that if he discussed arrangements with you these were formalised somewhere

PinkTonic · 06/01/2025 19:02

How much care did he require and for how long? Were you able to work at all? Why was he estranged from his children?

Gall10 · 06/01/2025 19:02

sorry this is happening to you but if your partner only died over Christmas then his family have acted unbelievably quickly to ask you to leave your home.