What happens to the house if my partner dies?
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on January 09, 2026
The family house
“It would become part of the probate estate.” One option is to make sure both of you are named as joint owners on the deed, “with rights of survivorship.” In that case, generally speaking, you each equally own the house and are entitled to assume full ownership upon the death of the other.Does my girlfriend get my house if I die?
Joint OwnershipA girlfriend can also receive property from a deceased companion who died intestate if they jointly-owned property that was legally structured in writing to pass to her if he died first. For example, if they bought a home and held it as joint tenants, she would own the home after his death.
What happens to your home when your spouse dies?
When spouses hold title to their marital home as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, this means that they both equally own the home in its entirety. So, much like a joint bank account, if one spouse dies, the surviving spouse will continue to own the property in its entirety.What happens if only your spouse is on the mortgage and they die?
Assumption of Mortgage After Death of a SpouseIn this case, the surviving spouse would become the sole owner. If you are the only one on the mortgage but are married, even if you don't have a Will, it is likely that through intestacy laws, your spouse will still inherit the house.
Will I lose my house if my spouse dies?
If your deceased spouse dies with a will, their share of community property and their separate property will be distributed according to the terms of that will, with some exceptions. However, if your spouse dies without a will, the distribution of assets will be governed by California's intestacy and other laws.What happens to the house when one spouse dies?
What happens when your partner dies and your not married?
The family house“It would become part of the probate estate.” One option is to make sure both of you are named as joint owners on the deed, “with rights of survivorship.” In that case, generally speaking, you each equally own the house and are entitled to assume full ownership upon the death of the other.