Please make a will!

konark

Under the intestacy rules the wife gets virtually all of a small estate so how was your friend any worse off?
The fact that she wasn't on the house deeds is irrelevent, the mortgage wouldn't have disappeared.
Dealing with an intestate estate is no more difficult than one with a will, in fact often simpler.

Many people don't make a will because they either have nothing to leave or are happy that the intestacy rules will provide for their nearest relatives.

simonineaston

My friend whose partner died suddenly earlier this month is worrying about this very subject - after he and I were only talking about it the other week! I advised him then to consider making wills at the earliest opportunity, which he didn't. And now his partner has suffered a fatal accident, and without a will. As well as having to deal with her death, and a post-mortem, he's worried sick that about his right to keep their home and how to deal with her estate.
I've been unable to help him (what can I say?!) except to recommend my own solicitor who has been helpful, approachable and not-too-dear when I consulted them following the death of my parents. I am working with them to draw up my will...
As far as I can tell, being a partner, and living in a home bought jointly (disregarding the exact details of their tenancy) doesn't give him many rights at all, as far as intestacy is concerned... so the Take-Away Fact remains - MAKE A WILL!!

Yorkshireman99

You are so right. Some ill informed people will tell you not to bother as the intestacy rules will suffice, or that it is easier to administer an intestate estate. They have obviously never seen first hand the grief that this can cause nor actually dealt with the consequences.

SevenOfNine

Unfortunately, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink!

Many people don't want to confront their own (or a loved ones) mortality, & there will be no persuading them otherwise however hard you try.

In the grand scheme of things a simple Will isn't that expensive, nor daunting, yet people still 'don't get round to it'. Even naming a beneficiary for work pension/death in service payment seems to be beyond the capabilities of some!