What Happens if I Die Without Making a Will?

A Spouse, or civil partner, and blood relatives are the only people who can inherit the estate of someone who has died intestate.

There is an easy-to-read flowchart at www.heritagewillwriting.co.uk/what-happens-if-i-dont-have-a-will/  which explains the order in which the money and belongings are distributed if no will is in place.

If none of these people exist, the whole lot goes to the Crown. Nothing goes to relatives on your spouse’s side. Nothing goes to your friends. And this, of course, may not be how you wanted all your worldly goods to be divided up, following your demise.

If you leave a spouse (or civil partner) and children – including those you had formally adopted – the rules of intestacy are quite the same. Your spouse (or civil partner) receives all of your personal belongings, the first £250,000 of the estate and a life interest in half of the remainder. Your children share the other half. No one else can be a beneficiary.

The law also lays down a strict order for who can administer the estate. Again, it’s spouse, or civil partner, followed by blood relatives.

But to save all the complications and to make sure your estate goes where you want it to, contact Heritage Will Writing on 02380 879243.