My boyfriend and I were together for more than 10 years, but we never married. He recently died without a will, and he never listed me as beneficiary on his life insurance and 401(k). Do I have a right to inherit a portion of his estate?
Unfortunately, most likely no. First, accounts that have a designated beneficiary, such as life insurance or a 401(k), pass according to the terms of the account, so you would only receive those proceeds if you were listed as the designated beneficiary.Second, since your boyfriend died without a will, his assets will pass according to state law, which makes no provision for non-family members. Since Michigan is no longer a common-law marriage state, you cannot claim him as your spouse based on the length of your relationship.