Living Together - Whose Property Upon Death?

[kream]

California is the state. A man and a woman have been living together for over 5 years. The house is in the woman's name, and she is the 'bread winner' - she pays the bills. The man is responsible for maintenance of the home and helps out financially when able. Both have bought household belongings that they share. For example, a TV was bought jointly. She bought the bed. He bought the kitchen table, etc. He has two grown children that do not live in their home, but live in their own homes in a nearby town. If he were pass away, would his children have the right to step in and try to take property from the home that he shared with his companion for over 5 years?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

California is the state. A man and a woman have been living together for over 5 years. The house is in the woman's name, and she is the 'bread winner' - she pays the bills. The man is responsible for maintenance of the home and helps out financially when able. Both have bought household belongings that they share. For example, a TV was bought jointly. She bought the bed. He bought the kitchen table, etc. He has two grown children that do not live in their home, but live in their own homes in a nearby town. If he were pass away, would his children have the right to step in and try to take property from the home that he shared with his companion for over 5 years?

My response:

Not if he Wills everything to his roommate. Unless there's a Will, and in the absence of marriage, everything of his goes to his next-of-kin. The problem, however, is anyone proving that anything in the house belongs to him. How do you prove that a table belongs to one person or the other ?

IAAL