Dying without a will

System

Unless you leave enough to interest one of the 'heir hunter' firms it would just go to the Crown.

alfiesmum

chesky369 wrote: »

Why don't you just leave a will?

Sounds like the best advice to me.

Goldenyears

ET1976 wrote: »

Would the estate go to 'the crown' in this case, rather than cousins, children of cousins etc, or would this come under the banner of 'If any of these have predeceased, but have living children then the children will take their parent's share'?

Living blood relatives up to the second degree (descended from lines of grandparents' siblings) are entitled. As Mugmump says the Crown won't try to find them. They have to make their own claim or through a probate research company within 30 years of death. The big companies like Fraser & Fraser or Hoopers prefer to work on estates of £100,000+. Small outfits working from home are happy with much less.

ET1976

thanks for your help.

I was planning to get round to doing a will (no dependents so not been a priority), but just wondered what would happen if I died tomorrow!

geoffgeofftygeoff

I would say get a will regardless of having dependents or not. In the event of death do you want your affairs to be sorted out in the way you choose or not? Do you want to nominate an executor or not? Having dependents makes it even more important but even without those dependents making a will should be a priority. All in my opinion of course.

Studlea_Phatt_Katt

The benefits of a will are far greater than just the main bequests. For those left behind, a record of your wishes, and the appointment of an executor makes it a lot easier for them to deal with things rather than having to second-guess what your opinion might have been. Even if your estate is small, intestacy would require appointment of administrator, obtaining letter of administration etc. which is all hassle and cost. Many don’t realise your will is an excellent way of perhaps giving items of sentimental value to friends, relatives or charities. In your will, you can also make plain your funeral wishes and deliberately exclude possible beneficiaries who might otherwise suddenly appear.

Just do a will.