
3 August 2020
While small weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can take place, sadly the recently announced relaxation of allowing up to 30 people attend receptions has been put back until August 15th at the earliest.
Under the current rules, receptions can only be attended by up to six people outside or two households inside.
While some couples will want to continue with their weddings, not everyone will be willing to change how they want to mark their special day and many may well decide to delay their wedding until next year.
Although it does not sound very romantic, it is worth remembering that a marriage or civil partnership is a contract, which legally recognises your spouse or civil partner.
Couples who live together but who are not married or in a civil partnership are at a disadvantage as there is very little provision for cohabiting partners should one die.
Claire-Marie Selwood, who is a Wills and Probate Solicitor at Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles explains: “Despite what many people think, there is no such thing as ‘Common Law Marriage’.”
“If you die without a Will, your estate will be governed by the Rules of Intestacy, and your life partner/cohabitee will not be classed as your next of kin. The Rules of Intestacy will determine how your property is divided and distributed irrespective of the number of years you have lived together. This could result in your estate being divided amongst your surviving family members to the exclusion of your life partner/cohabitee and this may not be what you would want to happen.”
“Therefore, I would strongly advise cohabiting couples who are postponing their wedding or civil partnerships to make a Will.”
“This is an important way to protect each other in the event of a death.”
Ordinarily, a Will made prior to marriage is automatically revoked once the marriage has taken place unless the Will is explicitly made in contemplation of that marriage.
“We can easily arrange for a Will to be drafted with a clause that incorporates the intention to marry or form a civil partnership. This means you don’t have to wait until after you are married to make your Will,” said Claire-Marie.
Wills are very important documents, particularly if you have children aged under 18. They can provide legal guardians for your children should the worst happen to you and your partner. The Intestacy Rules do not provide guidance on this area.
Claire-Marie said: “Wills provide clarity and peace of mind. If you are not sure when your wedding of civil partnership will take place, you can use the time in the lead up to your delayed nuptials to make suitable provision for your future spouse or civil partner.”
For more information about making a Will please contact Claire-Marie Selwood by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01256 854622.
Alternatively, click here to go to our contact page.
During these difficult times our Town Gate office in Basingstoke is temporarily closed to visitors unless by prior appointment when meeting in person is essential. However, thanks to our lawyers being able to work remotely, Phillips remains fully open for business and can discuss your legal matters by telephone and video conference.
Disclaimer
This article is current at the date of publication set out above and is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.
Contact Us
Please call us or email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
- 01256 460830
- [email protected]

After many years of success, we are delighted that the Ministry of Justice has extended this scheme for a further 12 months so that family mediation remains a financially accessible opt ...
More
Phillips Law is delighted to have been featured across six departments in the Legal 500 for 2025. The Legal 500 is a globally recognised legal directory that ranks law firms and individ ...
More
Latest figures from HMRC show that inheritance tax receipts have risen by 7.2% since last year. By taking advantage of available tax reliefs and planning carefully, families can make su ...
More
There are many reasons why you may be considering family mediation. Perhaps a friend has recommended it or you have heard that you ‘have to go to mediation’ but the chances are that you ...
More
The Annual Allowance With the end of the current tax year fast approaching, anyone wishing to use their 2023/24 (and potentially their 2022/2023) annual allowance in relation to gifts o ...
More
This week (4 – 8 March) is Update your Will Week Phillips Law is encouraging people to consider the risks of not having a Will following new research revealing nearly half of UK adults ...
More