Provisions of the Wills Act 1837 are extended to civil partnerships i.e. revocation of will upon marriage, effect of divorce/nullity, rules as to witnesses to the will:
- a civil partner may be granted probate letters of administration and have priority over the public trustee;
- same rights and priority upon intestacies for surviving spouse;
- same rights to make a claim against the estate of the civil partner in the absence of financial support;
- quantum is not limited to reasonable maintenance- the court must have regard to what financial provision would have been awarded upon dissolution of the civil partnership, prior cohabitation is likely to be taken into account in determining the length of the partnership for this purpose.
The proceeds of a life insurance policy for the benefit of a civil partnership or children will not form part of the estate.
Civil partners will be presumed to have an unlimited insurable interest in the life of each other.