"My partner and I have been together for a bit more than eight years. About six years ago, he purchased a house in North Carolina and the deed is entirely in his name. He has acknowledged that were anything to happen to him, he would want me to be able to stay in the house, but he tells me that he can only put my name on the deed if he refinances (which he doesn't want to do), or when he pays off the house, which he is about seven years away from doing. I love my partner, but he does struggle with depression and major health issues, and I am not only worried about him, but also about where I and our pets will go if anything does happen to him."
"Because the house (which has tripled in value since he bought it) is not paid off, he doesn't know if he can just leave it to me in his will. We have decided against marrying due to his large salary and my even larger student loan debt. I am listed as his domestic partner at his job, am on his health care, and am the beneficiary of his life insurance, but the partnership is not filed with the courts. His father has passed away, and he has no relationship with his mother or brother (he despises both and won't speak with them), but I suppose they would technically be his next of kin. They are the type to gladly take the house without any care about throwing me and our pets out."
A sole-owned North Carolina house has an unpaid mortgage and is deeded only to the partner, who refuses to refinance or add the partner's name and expects payoff in about seven years. The partner has significant health issues and depression, creating immediate risk of incapacity or death. The asker is an unregistered domestic partner, listed for benefits and as life insurance beneficiary, but lacks formal legal survivorship. Estranged family members would be next of kin and might claim the property. Legal mechanisms such as a transfer-on-death deed, revocable trust, joint tenancy, or lender-approved mortgage assumption can secure occupancy or ownership, and lenders and state law will affect options.
Read at Slate Magazine
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