Without A Will:
What happens if you have no Will?
If you die without a Will your belongings are distributed according to a set of rules laid down by Parliament.
Please note that this is a general representation of the state of the law at the time this list was composed. If you want further details about any matters here you should contact Richard Howard for further information.
If you are married...
| Check | If Yes... | If No... |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is your estate worth more than £270,000? | See step 2. | Everything goes to the spouse |
| 2. Do you have children? | First £270,000 goes to the spouse, plus life interest in 50% of the rest. The balance goes to the children | See step 3. |
| 3. Do you have parents, brothers & sisters? | First £450,000 goes to the spouse, plus 50% of the rest. The balance goes to the parents, or brothers and sisters if parents are dead. | Everything goes to the spouse |
If you are not married...
| Do you have... | If Yes... | If No... |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Children? | Shared equally amongst children | See step 2. |
| 2. Parents? | Shared equally between parents | See step 3. |
| 3. Brothers & Sisters? | Shared equally between brothers and sisters | See step 4. |
| 4. Grandparents? | Shared equally between grandparents | See step 5. |
| 5. Uncles & Aunts? | Shared equally between uncles and aunts | See step 6. |
| 6. None of the above? | Everything goes to the Crown |