Cohabitation and inheritance arrangements - Legal advice

Questioner

I want to move in with my partner soon. His ex-wife is still co-owner of the house where he lives because it is underwater, but he pays all the costs. Because I have no income I cannot 'take over' her part of the mortgage. We would like to arrange everything properly for a sensible and safe future. What can we do to ensure that I can continue to live here if he dies?

Lawyer

You could arrange some things with a will. However, if the house is still in the name of your partner's ex-partner when your partner dies, you will only inherit half of this house. The other half remains with your partner's ex-partner. If you marry your partner or enter into a registered partnership, a community of property is created, which means that the home also becomes your property, half of it.