Wallace & Co. Solicitors and Notaries.

Special problems of Gay men and women.    

2.     Wills and inheritance.

For gay couples, it is vital to make Wills at an early stage. Not all gay couples live in jointly owned property even though they may have lived together for many years. If the partner who owns the property dies first, this leaves the non-owning partner in a very difficult position. Even if the non-owning partner has contributed towards the purchase of the property by cash payments or substantial contributions towards mortgage instalments it can be difficult to enforce rights in the property without court action especially where other members of the deceased's family would be entitled on an intestacy (intestacy is where someone dies without leaving a will).

Making a will is vital to ensure that the non-owning surviving partner is not left on the streets even after a relationship lasting many years.

Following the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 (which became law on 5 December 2005) most of these problems will not apply to registered partnerships. Unregistered partnerships are unaffected. There may be many reasons why long term partners decide not to register their partnerships. Proper planning can deal with some of the resulting problems. 

Wallace & Co., Solicitors and Notaries. 11a Station Parade, Balham High Road, London, SW12 9AZ (entrance in Ravenstone Street).
Tel: 020 8675 6755. Fax: 020 8675 2001.
email:    Is available