Wills
What happens if you die without a Will?
Without a Will, the law decides who inherits. Here is what that can mean for the people closest to you.
If you die without a valid Will in England and Wales, your estate is shared out under a fixed set of rules called the intestacy rules. These rules look only at certain family relationships, not at your wishes.
Who can lose out
- Unmarried partners do not automatically inherit, however long you have lived together.
- Stepchildren do not inherit unless they were legally adopted.
- Friends and charities receive nothing.
Other things a Will settles
A Will also lets you choose your executors (the people who deal with your estate) and name guardians for children under 18. Without one, these decisions can fall to others and may take longer to resolve.
This is general information about the law in England and Wales, not advice about your circumstances.
