Back in 2007, the Law Commission suggested that couples who have lived together for five years (or two years with children) should have similar inheritance rights if one of them passes away without a will. However, this recommendation wasn’t adopted, so some key advantages are still reserved for those who are married or in a civil partnership. So, what are some of the main benefits unmarried couples are missing?

• They can’t inherit an unused nil rate band from their partner.
• They can’t give each other Inheritance Tax-free gifts during their lifetime or on death.
• They can’t inherit the ISA allowance.
• They don’t qualify for the married couple’s allowance, which only applies if one person was born before 6 April 1935.
• They miss out on “no gain no loss” Capital Gains Tax rules on transfers between partners.
• They can’t share part of their personal allowance (though this only applies to lower-income married couples).