Marrying a Platonic Friend? Here's What to Do With Your Home
A homeowner with no kids plans to wed their platonic best friend. The estate-planning stakes are real.
You own your home free and clear. No mortgage, no kids, no complicated dependents. Now you're marrying your platonic best friend of 20 years — and you're wondering whether to leave them the house. That question deserves a hard, clear-eyed answer before you sign anything.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: marriage changes everything legally, whether the relationship is romantic or not. The moment you say 'I do,' your spouse gains automatic legal standing in many states — rights to property, inheritance claims, even a say in medical decisions. If you don't update your estate plan to reflect your actual intentions, the state decides for you. That's rarely what anyone wants.
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The bigger question isn't whether you *should* leave your friend the home — it's whether you've thought through all the scenarios. What if your friend predeceases you? What if the marriage strains the friendship down the road? A well-drafted will, a revocable living trust, or a transfer-on-death deed can all give you flexibility without locking you into a permanent decision made in the honeymoon phase of even a platonic arrangement.
The tradeable angle here: your home is likely your single largest asset. Treating estate planning as an afterthought is the most expensive mistake you can make. Get a real estate attorney and an estate planner in the same room before the wedding date is set. Define the terms now, in writing, while the friendship is solid and the intentions are clear.
Platonic or passionate, marriage is a legal contract first. Protect the asset, protect the friendship, and don't let sentiment override strategy. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com
