Dying without a will

ET1976

Not really a pension question but I couldn't see anywhere else appropriate. What happens if you die without making a will (and have no children)?

If you have a spouse, would everything go automatically to them?

If you did not have a spouse, what would happen?

Browntoa

if no spouse then siblings , then if no siblings then cousins etc

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/basics/wills.htm

Your estate will be shared equally amongst them in this order of priority - parents; brothers/sisters; half brothers/sisters; grandparents; aunts/uncles; spouses of aunts/uncles. If any of these have predeceased, but have living children then the children will take their parent's share

lt123

There are limits to the amounts that go to the spouse - first £250k I think, then relatives.. or state

noh

Have a play with this to see what happens in different situations.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cto/customerguide/page14-1.htm

sleepless_saver

Don't know where OP is, but the intestacy rules are different in Scotland.

System

noh's link covers both

Goldenyears

Browntoa wrote: »

if no spouse then siblings , then if no siblings then cousins etc

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/basics/wills.htm

Your estate will be shared equally amongst them in this order of priority - parents; brothers/sisters; half brothers/sisters; grandparents; aunts/uncles; spouses of aunts/uncles. If any of these have predeceased, but have living children then the children will take their parent's share

I am far from being an expert in such things but AFAIK the spouses of blood or half blood aunts/uncles cannot inherit under intestacy rules whatever that website says (unless I supppose they were cousin marriages).

getmore4less

Goldenyears wrote: »

I am far from being an expert in such things but AFAIK the spouses of blood or half blood aunts/uncles cannot inherit under intestacy rules whatever that website says (unless I supppose they were cousin marriages).

Numbers are nearly a year out of date as well not a good sign that anything is accurate.

Best to use multiple sources of info.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/BenefitsAndMoney/DG_10029657

there are a few forms to look at

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/HMCSCourtFinder/GetForms.do?court_forms_category=Probate


there are also rulews on who can deal with the estate.

ET1976

thanks for all the help!

I am in England btw.

ET1976

one more question - I have just looked at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cto/customerguide/page14-1.htm with the scenario no spouse, no children, no parents but surviving remoter relatives. I have none on the relatives on the list (siblings, grandparents, uncles/aunts).

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'?

chesky369

Why don't you just leave a will?