If my fiancé and I lived together for 20 years under the same roof, do I have any legal rights since I’m still legally married?
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If my fiancé and I lived together for 20 years under the same roof, do I have any legal rights since I’m still legally married?
Asked on November 19, 2014 under Estate Planning, Virginia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
Being engaged is not a relationship recognized by the law in terms of inheritance (or in terms of having the authority to make health care decisions, for that matter); if you were engaged but not married to your fiance at the time he or she passed away, for example, you would only inherit if he or she left you something in the will. Legally, for inheritance and health care purposes, being engaged is not different than just dating.
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