{"id":2289,"date":"2022-03-09T09:48:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T09:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/family-matters.co.uk\/?p=2289"},"modified":"2022-03-09T09:48:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T09:48:44","slug":"what-happens-if-i-die-without-a-will","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/family-matters.co.uk\/uncategorized\/what-happens-if-i-die-without-a-will\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If I Die Without A Will?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dealing with the estate of a deceased loved one can be a drawn-out and challenging process even when there is a legally valid Will.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When someone dies without a valid Will in place, there are strict <\/span>inheritance laws<\/span><\/a>, referred to as the \u2018Rules of Intestacy\u2019, which apply in England and Wales. <\/span>These rules set an order of precedence which determine who is entitled to what and who is allowed to administer the Estate (the executor).<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone makes a will but it turns out to be legally invalid, it is the rules of intestacy that decide how the estate will be shared out. This is not necessarily going to be the way you would have planned.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rules of Intestacy<\/a> place relatives of the deceased in a strict order of priority as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. married partner \/ civil partner of the deceased<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Child<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Grandchild<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Parent<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Sibling<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Niece\/Nephew<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Other relative<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Rules of Intestacy don\u2019t allow for modern or more complicated family relationships – for example they:<\/span><\/p>\n