The webinar on 23 October 2024, focused on claims available to unmarried partners against each other’s estate on intestacy. Experts from Scotland, Portugal, and Denmark discussed legislative models in their jurisdictions. The event was organized by Gregor Christandl (University of Graz), Dorota Miler (University of Gdańsk & University of Augsburg), and Denise Wiedemann (Max Planck Institute).

Gregor Christandl opened the webinar, followed by a brief introduction by Dorota Miler. She highlighted the increasing number of unmarried partnerships in Europe, the lack of regulation of succession-law rights for unmarried and unregistered partners in most European jurisdictions, the expected content of the presentations, and the reasons for inviting speakers from selected jurisdictions.

Alexandra Braun (University of Edinburgh) compared the claims available in England, Wales, and Scotland, explaining their practical application and the difficulties in their application. Fernando Oliveira e Sá (Catholic University of Portugal) presented the most recent legislation regulating unmarried partnerships in Portugal and indicated some claims available to them on their partner’s death. Gitte Meldgaard Abrahamsen and Majken With Lindhardt (Aalborg University) provided a comprehensive overview of rights and claims available to unmarried partners upon their partners’ death under Danish law.

The seminar concluded with a discussion led by Denise Wiedemann and Gregor Christandl. The discussion focused on overcoming the difficulties of determining unmarried partnerships without interfering with the private sphere of the partners and the importance of other provisions (e.g., life insurance and pension schemes) for the financial situation of unmarried partners upon their partner’s death.