Unmarried couples aren't viewed as 'a default unit' at end of life, advisor says. Why that matters

For unmarried couples in long-term relationships, being non-spouses from a legal standpoint may be an unremarkable part of everyday life.

In the event of death, however, that unwed status can make a huge difference. While the person who passed away might have wanted their partner to receive all or some assets, they "don't get the automatic safety net that comes with marriage," said certified financial planner Jared Gagne, an associate wealth advisor with Claro Advisors in Boston.

"The most important thing to understand is that the law does not see you as a default unit," Gagne said. "If one partner dies without planning, state law typically sends assets to blood relatives … not the partner who's been sharing a home and a life with them."

Living together without formally marrying has become a more common arrangement and largely accepted: According to a 2019 Pew Research Center study, 69% of U.S. adults say cohabitation is fine even if a couple doesn't plan to get married.

That viewpoint has occurred alongside shifts in when people get married — or if they do at all.