Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: 7 Costly Mistakes That Leave Partners With Nothing

Could your partner inherit nothing if you died tomorrow?

If you’re living together but aren’t married, the answer may surprise you.

Estate planning attorney Harry Margolis, author of Get Your Ducks in a Row, explains why unmarried couples face legal risks that married couples often avoid automatically.

In this interview with Bob Powell, CFP®, RMA®, you’ll learn:

Why unmarried partners have fewer legal rights

How wills protect your partner

Why beneficiary designations matter more than many people realize

When you need a durable power of attorney

What a health care proxy actually does

The biggest estate planning mistakes unmarried couples make

How to avoid expensive family disputes and probate litigation

Whether you’ve been together for two years or twenty, this conversation explains the legal documents that can help protect your partner, your wishes and your assets.

Topics covered

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Why estate planning matters more for unmarried couples

01:15 Health care proxies and powers of attorney

02:10 Beneficiary designations explained

02:55 What happens if your partner isn’t named?

03:35 The biggest mistake unmarried couples make

03:55 Final advice from Harry Margolis