Are there really people who don't need a will?

FlorayG

I have several friends who have no close relatives and live in rented accommodation and tell me "I don't need a will because I have nothing to leave anybody"
Is this really true? What happens to the small amount of belongings they 'think' they have ( I'm almost sure most of them have more than they think they do)
Who deals with their estate when they die?

p00hsticks

Either the closest relative (who would inherit under intestacy rules) could apply for letters of administration if they though it worth the hassle, or the estate is left undealt with and if in rented accomodation it would be down to the landlord to clear the belongings if no family stepped forward. 

You could argue that it is pointless making a will if there is little to leave, no-one obvious to leave it to and no-one likely to be willing to be an executor. 

SVaz

I imagine the Landlord, whether HA or private, arranges a house clearance,  with someone going through the stuff in case of any items of value, sad but it must happen. 
There must be a lot of people who die intestate and alone.  

Savvy_Sue

SVaz said:

I imagine the Landlord, whether HA or private, arranges a house clearance,  with someone going through the stuff in case of any items of value, sad but it must happen. 
There must be a lot of people who die intestate and alone.  

I think unlikely the landlord will benefit from anyone going through the stuff - time, and they're not the legal beneficiary.

If people don't mind risking the government getting anything left in bank accounts etc, no need at all. But if they have ANY relations left, they're likely to leave a costly mess.

SVaz

You would be surprised,  someone working for the HA would definitely go rooting around in the deceased’s property.   My Sister in law lives in a HA flat within a large and, from her window, very visible complex,  she knows exactly who has died with no relatives,  it’s obvious to a blind man on a galloping horse.  

RAS

The LA or NHS Trust are going to have to arrange the public health funeral if no funds are found. So someone is going to have to go in to find whatever is under the mattress or hidden in the teapot.

Until the value of the assets is clear they don't know what sort of funeral they are arranging. A bit like a distantish relative picking up the pieces after the death of an elderly person with no-one close.