Entitlement of Spouses: Which statement is true about acquiring property?

• A. Spouses automatically inherit property
• B. The spouse can acquire property by s41 AEA if the property value is less than or equal to the sum due of inheritance
• C. Schedule 1 IEA 1925 requires equality money in all cases
• D. The spouse can acquire property by any means other than these rules

Answer: (D)

Spouses don’t automatically inherit property; there are statutory routes that can affect a spouse’s entitlement, but those routes are not the only ways a spouse can come to own property. A spouse can acquire property through many ordinary means—such as purchases, gifts, transfers on death under a will, intestacy arrangements, joint ownership, or trusts.

So this statement is the best because it recognises that, beyond any specific statutory provisions, there are other valid avenues by which a spouse may acquire property. The other options either misstate the nature of automatic inheritance or rely on particular statutory provisions that do not apply universally.