In the 2007 Adam Sandler comedy ‘I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry’, 2 straight men enter into a civil union pretending to be homosexuals in order for the widower of the two to be able to increase his life insurance policy so he can name his children as primary beneficiaries in case of his death.
It sounds crazy, but apparently fiction has once again met reality. In Ireland, two best friends, both heterosexual, got married to each other this week in order to avoid having to pay inheritance tax of €50,000.
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael O'Sullivan talking before marrying best friend Matt to avoi inheritance tax. More at <a href="https://twitter.com/IrishMirror?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IrishMirror</a> <a href="https://t.co/y3crseHPMW">pic.twitter.com/y3crseHPMW</a></p>— Emma McMenamy (@emmamcm) <a href="https://twitter.com/emmamcm/status/944195775923478529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The older of the two, Mr Matt Murphy, 83-years-old, intends to leave his house to his carer and best friend Mr Michael O’Sullivan, 58-years-old, but if he were to do that, it would leave Mr O’Sullivan with a €50,000 tax bill.
Therefore, after consulting with a lawyer, Mr. Murphy and Mr. O’Sullivan decided that the best way to go forth would be to get married to Mr. Murhpy could leave his house to Mr. O’Sullivan without the latter having to pay the tax.
Mr. O’Sullivan explained it was Matt’s plan to get married and avoid the huge bill: “I’ve known Matty for 30 years. We became very friendly after my second relationship broke up. I have been bringing Matt out in my car to various parties and all that kind of thing.”
“He became friends with all my friends, they all loved him. I lost my apartment and then I was living in somebody’s house. That house was sold and I ended up being homeless.”
“He said that he couldn’t pay me as a career. Eventually, Matt said the only way he could pay me was to leave me the house. He said he would give me the house, so I have somewhere to live when he goes.”
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Good for them.