re: #348 rightymouse

As for automatic inheritance of property, I only know about Ohio and we still covered our butts. If I’m not mistaken, there are tax issues if one dies intestate. The best thing to do is check your state law.

Medical decisions can be conferred via medial Power of Attorney. Even married couples do this.

The rest of your post speaks to what I believe to be the heart of the issue not so easily resolved which are the spousal medical benefits and social security (which you didn’t mention specifically).

As far as tax issues - well we get clobbered by being married. So be careful for what you wish on that one. lol!

There are no tax issues that result from intestacy. Not estate tax issues, not inheritance tax issues and not income tax issues. Federal estates that pass to a spouse are not taxable, whether by intestacy or will. Federal estates that pass to a non-spouse (other than a charity) are taxable above the exemption amount (currently $3.5 million). The same is true for inheritance taxes imposed by most states. And no POA or other fancy footwork will change that.