I found when my partner lizzie died i realized the diffrence that being a partner and being married before she died i was classed as her next of kin to the hospital etc i had nursed liz many times over our years together as over the five and half years together we had never been apart and we often said we both felt we had been together forever and were so lucky and that i was the first person she had truely ever loved and trusted. and hated being appart this i what i am saying is not about money possesions what its about is when she died her daughter arranged everything even to eulogy i got to put nothing in it i was basicaly nothing no better than just a friend of the family with benefits so this may be food for thought as liz and i got engaged to marry after diagnosis of cancer before we could not marry because of pension she would have lost if not for that we would have married in months.but she had stroke sepsis and died within two days so it was impossible so read my words please hope ive offended no one as this is not my intension but just to highlight a point that is if you are in this situation dont!!! wait!!! Because theres no such thing as common law spouse and you may find trouble for the partner who is left especialy with children .a sobering thought