So what happened?

[Drich]

So, wills, or titles, deeds, drivers licenses, insurance cards/policy and or even bank accounts or investment statements or even tax deductions. mean nothing to you? all of which are represented by a piece of paper.. Maybe you don't understand what importance a piece of paper has in this society, but whom ever survives you (the people you leave behind after you go off to find out how real God is..) will be or can be royally screwed if they do not recognise common law wives.

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Just saying.. my dad had a 'girl friend' for 40+ years and she didn't get anything after he passed, the state would not allow her anything he promised and did not include in the will.

I hear your concern, but the law here is different Drich. You do know I'm Portuguese right? Mabe in the US is different. If your dad's "gf" had a child you and your other brothers would have to split. Over here, you can't disown progeny.

The point... without a "will" IE piece of paper the government is not obliged to carry out your last wishes. let's say you wanted you common law wife to get everything, and have her distribute out your estate. Rather than your drug or gambling addicted son who then become rightful heir.

OR if you want to pretend that you will know what will happen after you die and your verbal wishes are enough, and no one will fight or sue each other.. then let's look at any of the other pieces of paper I mentioned. do you OWN a car? do you OWN a house? what happens when you are required to show proof of ownership? what happens when you want to sell or transfer ownership? what about a bank account? here is another example of a piece of paper that defines your worth, and or live like a man with in your means or a homeless guy. Do you have registered pets and or live stock where you live? got a goat 150 bucks got a certified nigerian dwarf with all of it's pedigree/paper work not you have a 800 dollar goat.

The point is we live by what we swear out on paper. If you are willing to define your life by these papers, then why not swear out or declare to the person you love she in your lists of priorities is as valuable as a prized dog goat car bank account ect...