What happens if I don’t have a will?

6 September 2023 8:15 am

Introduction

If you don’t have a will, the Intestacy Rules state how your estate will be distributed after your death. The rules are complicated and can lead to family disagreements over who gets what. It’s much easier to write a will yourself than it is to try and sort out what happens when someone dies without one. So in this article, we’ll go over what happens if you don’t have a will.

What happens if I don’t have a will?

So, what happens if you don’t have a will? Well, your estate will be distributed according to the Intestacy Rules. The Intestacy Rules determine who inherits your estate if you die without a will. Here’s how it works:

If you’re married (but with no children), your spouse automatically inherits everything—100% of it! This is true even if they have been separated from you for years and have no idea where you are or what happened to their money. If you are married with children then your spouse gets all of your personal possessions and the first £270,000. The balance of the estate is shared equally between your spouse and your children.
Otherwise, if there isn’t any surviving spouse or civil partner with whom to share the inheritance, then all of your children (including stepchildren) inherit an equal share of whatever’s left over after subtracting out certain expenses that apply specifically in intestacy situations.

Having a will gives you choice

If you don’t have a will in the UK, your property will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. This means that if you die without leaving a valid will, your next of kin will inherit your estate.

If you die without leaving a valid last will and testament, it doesn’t mean that your loved ones won’t benefit from any inheritance—it just means that they might not receive what they would have wanted or expected to get. As such, it’s important for people who want their estate distributed in particular ways to make sure they have wills drawn up before their deaths occur so that their wishes can be respected as closely as possible.

Without a will, none of your possessions can go to cohabitants or unmarried partners

If you don’t have a will, none of your possessions can go to cohabitants or unmarried partners. The law has very specific rules about who inherits when someone dies without leaving a valid will. For more information go to Is there a living husband, wife or civil partner? – Intestacy – who inherits if someone dies without a will? – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Conclusion

When you write a will, you’re making sure your wishes are carried out. You can choose who gets your possessions and how they are distributed – as well as appointing guardians for any children. It’s also important to ensure that everything is legal and in order, so that there aren’t any disputes between family members after your death.