What happens if you don't make a Will?

Seven out of ten people die without making a Will. (This is known as dying ‘intestate’). If you have not made a Will then our flow chart below shows how your estate would be distributed if you died – irrespective of your own wishes or the particular needs of your family or loved ones.

Did you know that a widow or widower will not necessarily inherit the whole estate of their spouse? Other relatives may be entitled to a share of the estate and this may result in hardship for the survivor. Unmarried couples have no rights under the intestacy rules, so if one cohabitee dies the other will not inherit unless provision was made in a Will. These rules are changed from time to time by the government, so unless you have made a Will the distribution of your estate will be affected automatically by any changes made. Making a Will is not expensive. It can save considerable expense and much heartache later.