Why doesn't a half sibling inherit (Intestacy)

Spendless

Curiosity question. Looking at the Government website. If you get as far as having no one to inherit your estate until you get to siblings, half siblings don't count. Why not? I understand step siblings who aren't biologically related to you not doing but why is this the case when you have a shared parent?

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

Are there any living brothers or sisters, or any living descendants of deceased brothers or sisters (such as nephews or nieces)?

This does not include step-brothers, step-sisters, half-brothers or half-sisters, or their descendants. If any brothers, sisters or their descendants survived the deceased but have since died, select 'Yes'.

poppystar

It follows the blood line so full siblings get priority (two lots of same blood) but if there are no full blood then half blood is next on the list. Another reason why a Will is a good idea in complicated or blended families rather than relying on intestacy rules. 

Spendless

poppystar said:

It follows the blood line so full siblings get priority (two lots of same blood) but if there are no full blood then half blood is next on the list. Another reason why a Will is a good idea in complicated or blended families rather than relying on intestacy rules. 

Ok. don't think the link I put up makes that clear. What if  you vane 1 full sibling and 1 half sibling and they are your only family and you die without a will, shared equally, or full blood takes priority?

poppystar

AIUI full blood gets it all in that scenario. The link you posted is effectively a list in descending order of priority - only if you declare no full siblings or issue from deceased full siblings would you get to half siblings who are next on the list. 

badmemory

Try looking at it like this.  If a child dies then unless they have children or a spouse it then goes to their parents (not their siblings).  If their parents are also dead it goes then to their children.  Which is why it is full siblings first.  If there are no full siblings then & only then would half siblings become involved.  A very good reason to always have a will, even more so when family relationships are more complicated.

Spendless

badmemory said:

Try looking at it like this.  If a child dies then unless they have children or a spouse it then goes to their parents (not their siblings).  If their parents are also dead it goes then to their children.  Which is why it is full siblings first.  If there are no full siblings then & only then would half siblings become involved.  A very good reason to always have a will, even more so when family relationships are more complicated.

So, I'm thinking of my friend who has 3 sons, 2 from a previous relationship (their biological Dad that they didn't have a relationship with  died a few years ago) then she married and had another son to her husband. (husband didn't adopt older 2 kids and that's not a possibility now as they are adults) 

 All 3 kids have been brought up together as brothers from being young, only  son 1 and son  2   are full siblings to each other  son 3 is a half brother. Let's say later on in life Son 2  dies, single without children and parents and grandparents have already passed, I think what is being said that if son 2 dies intestate then only his older brother inherits from him (child 1) not his younger brother, despite there being no other closer relatives left and them having a shared mother. 

poppystar

Spendless said:

badmemory said:

Try looking at it like this.  If a child dies then unless they have children or a spouse it then goes to their parents (not their siblings).  If their parents are also dead it goes then to their children.  Which is why it is full siblings first.  If there are no full siblings then & only then would half siblings become involved.  A very good reason to always have a will, even more so when family relationships are more complicated.

So, I'm thinking of my friend who has 3 sons, 2 from a previous relationship (their biological Dad that they didn't have a relationship with  died a few years ago) then she married and had another son to her husband. (husband didn't adopt older 2 kids and that's not a possibility now as they are adults) 

 All 3 kids have been brought up together as brothers from being young, only  son 1 and son  2   are full siblings to each other  son 3 is a half brother. Let's say later on in life Son 2  dies, single without children and parents and grandparents have already passed, I think what is being said that if son 2 dies intestate then only his older brother inherits from him (child 1) not his younger brother, despite there being no other closer relatives left and them having a shared mother. 

Yes, exactly that.

In that scenario if child 3 was to pass then, assuming no full siblings, parents, children etc, his estate would go to the half siblings.