Trying to convince someone to make a will.

Mojisola

Keep_pedalling said:

Sorry, they don't have children so first in line would be siblings.

As she is the last one of her family, it will be down to the fastest nephew/niece off the mark who becomes the estate administrator.

hamer

Thanks K-p, I remember reading or someone saying something  some time ago that if someone passes intestate that the government skims off 40% of the value of the estate.
 Am I correct in thinking this or have I just imagined it.

Linton

hamer said:

Thanks K-p, I remember reading or someone saying something  some time ago that if someone passes intestate that the government skims off 40% of the value of the estate.
 Am I correct in thinking this or have I just imagined it.

You imagined it.  IHT is not dependent on whether there was a will or not.

One can think of circumstances where the tax could be lower if the deceased had made a will different to the default.  However in those circumstances, if the beneficiaries agreed, the default could be changed to somethng more tax efficient.

MalMonroe

Poor Jo. I feel sorry for her. Reading through all these comments and the OP, she appears to be being regarded as nothing more than a cash cow. Not one word of affection has been mentioned. 

What if she survives another ten years or so? And what if, during that time, she needs to go into a care home (not saying she will but she may need to). In that case, there will be nothing left as her fees will have to be paid from her estate. 

If I were her I'd just do as I pleased and try my best not to be bullied into making a will but to try to live my life as I wished, without any interference from extended family. She won't care what happens to anything once she's gone. I'd also be inclined, if I were finally persuaded to make any kind of will, to exclude those who had been trying to encourage me to make one.

As for actually showing Jo this thread about how all her distant relatives want to split her estate? Well, that's just plain callous. Or is it just me?

If you do read this, Jo, please do what YOU want to do! Seems like most of your distant relatives have written you off already. And shame on them.

Keep_pedalling

Mojisola said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Sorry, they don't have children so first in line would be siblings.

As she is the last one of her family, it will be down to the fastest nephew/niece off the mark who becomes the estate administrator.

Doh! 2 senior moments on one thread.

elsien

MalMonroe said:

.

Poor Jo. I feel sorry for her. Reading through all these comments and the OP, she appears to be being regarded as nothing more than a cash cow. Not one word of affection has been mentioned. 

What if she survives another ten years or so? And what if, during that time, she needs to go into a care home (not saying she will but she may need to). In that case, there will be nothing left as her fees will have to be paid from her estate. 

If I were her I'd just do as I pleased and try my best not to be bullied into making a will but to try to live my life as I wished, without any interference from extended family. She won't care what happens to anything once she's gone. I'd also be inclined, if I were finally persuaded to make any kind of will, to exclude those who had been trying to encourage me to make one.

As for actually showing Jo this thread about how all her distant relatives want to split her estate? Well, that's just plain callous. Or is it just me?

If you do read this, Jo, please do what YOU want to do! Seems like most of your distant relatives have written you off already. And shame on them.

I think it's just you. The OP does say that that suggestions about how to leave the money have come from Jo herself. And there is no suggestion that anyone is trying to make her change her mind about her bequests. Just that they think it would be helpful for it to be formalised otherwise it may not be split how she wants it to be. 
It's about giving her the information to make an informed choice about whether to make a will or not. That's how I read it anyway. 

Mojisola

Keep_pedalling said:

Doh! 2 senior moments on one thread.

I've been there as well!  Sometimes things just don't stick.

maman

I think you've just caused unnecessary confusion by your intervention @MalMonroe. The only thing I agree with you about is that Jo should make her own decision.

@hamer is simply trying to ensure she has the facts about how inheritance works to enable Jo to make an informed decision.

Jo herself has said she doesn't want to leave her estate to relatives that she wouldn't recognise in the street. She's also expressed an interest in supporting a charity. If she wants to be sure her wishes are carried out she needs to write a will and choose an executor she knows and trusts. 

hamer

Not surprisingly I'm inclined to agree with elsien and maman as they have grasped where I am originally coming from. There is an abundance of relevant information to support my reason for creating this thread. I have however declined to disclose this to avoid clouding the central issues. 

sheramber

you could go through this with her

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will/y