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/Civil Partner |
| 2. Do you have children? | First £270,000 goes to the Spouse/Civil Partner. Then the remaining balance is split equally, one half for the Spouse/Civil Partner and one half to be shared between the children. |
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. Cousins? | Shared equally between cousins | See step 7. |
| 7. None of the above? | It’s complicated, but potentially everything goes to the Crown |