Intestacy

If you die without making a Will, your estate will pass and will be administered according to the Intestacy Rules.

The rules of intestacy set out who will get what and who will administer the estate. This beneficiaries under the intestacy will depend on the total net value of the estate. The next of kin will usually be the administrators (personal representatives) and must apply to the probate registry for the power to deal with the estate under 'letters of administration'
The Intestacy Rules are briefly:

If you have a spouse, but no children or other relatives, your spouse will get everything.

If you have a spouse, and children, your spouse will receive £125,000 outright, plus a life interest in half of what’s over. Your children will receive outright the remaining half of what is over above the £125,000, and the other half on the death of your spouse.

If you are not married, but have children, your partner will get nothing, and everything will be divided between the children. If you are unmarried and have no children or other relatives, everything goes to the Crown.

Other rules apply in respect of other relatives who may take where there is no spouse or children.

Married person with children

Spouse gets everything up to *£125,000 & personal possessions.
Anything remaining is divided into two:-
Half to the children at 18 or earlier marriage.
Half in trust during spouse's lifetime - he or she gets the income. On spouse's death this half goes to the children.
If a child predeceases, leaving issue, his issue will take his share between them.

Married person, no children

If there are parents, brothers or sisters of the whole blood, nephew or nieces:-
Spouse gets everything up to *£200,000 & personal possessions.
Anything remaining is divided into two:-
Half of this goes to spouse
Half to parents. If no parent is living then it goes to brothers or sisters or their children.
Married person, no parents, brothers or sisters of the whole blood, nephew or nieces
Spouse takes whole estate.

Unmarried person with children

Estate goes to children at 18 or earlier marriage.
If a child predeceases, leaving issue, his issue take per stirpes.

Unmarried person with no children

Estate goes to parents.
If none, then to siblings of the whole blood or their issue.
If none, then to siblings of the half blood or their issue.
If none, then to grandparents.
If none, then to uncles and aunts of the whole blood or their issue.
If none, then to uncles and aunts of the half blood or their issue.
If there are no parents, siblings (whole or half blood), issue of siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts (whole or half blood), or issue of uncles or aunts, estate goes to the Crown (or to the Duchy of Lancaster or the Duke of Cornwall).

Intestacy | Inheritance Tax | Powers of Attorney | Probate and Administration | Trusts | Wills

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