My boyfriend and I lived together for more than ten years, and he died in a car accident. We were never legally married. What does the law in Las Vegas say about a case like ours?
In general, the United States does not give legal recognition to common-law relationships. When it comes to dividing property or inheriting from a partner, an unmarried couple can be left with very little legal protection. Even if you lived for ten years or more as what anyone would call a married couple, without a registered marriage you may have no legal claim to your partner's assets when an accident or tragedy strikes.
There is an exception. Nine US states do recognize common-law marriage and grant at least some of the inheritance rights a legal spouse would have. Those states are Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
The bottom line: a spoken promise like 'Honey, if I go first, everything is yours' carries no legal weight. When a sudden tragedy like a fatal car accident strikes, that can be a devastating discovery. A written will, however, is legally effective. That is why you need to talk to a lawyer. Don't try to sort this out on your own. Bring your situation to us at Parke Injury Law and let a traffic accident attorney look at it with you.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation.