what happens if you do not have a will?

[hedders]

I am single with no dependants and my parents are divorced. When I die who would get my house,life insurance, etc if i don't have a will?

Would it go to my designated next of kin automatically?

If my parents were dead, would my sister inherit?

I am not planning on dying anytime soon, I am just curious cos my solicitor says I should write one (He should write me one), but i don't really care who gets my stuff so long as it stays in the family.

[vixpy1]

Your nearest living reletive

[Racylady]

And if no living relatives, the bloody government - so make a Will!!!!

[crazylegs]

I've been told that without a will then Mr. Brown will receive a larger share of your estate than he would normally - I'd be interested to know if this really is the case...

[rude-boy]

Yep, should go to your next of kin under the Intestacy Rules.

If you do decide to get a will make sure it's done at a solicitors office. You would be amazed at how many wills are thrown out by the Probate Registry when it comes to it because some silly little thing has been missed out/done.

For example your will should never be witnessed by an intended beneficiary or it will fail, if there is an indentation on the paper the will is written on that suggests something might have been stapled or even paper clipped to it they can reject it.

Don't forget, when your dead you can't tell your personal representatives that you don't want your dosh to go to so and so, etc. It's also a good place to leave any funeral wishes, etc.

If you are interested in having a Living Will (eg if in a comma for more than 6mths please withdraw feeding / switch off life support if high degree of risk that you will be in a constant vegetative state, etc) ask the solicitor about that to.

Don't forget to tell a few close friends/relatives that you have made a will and where it is kept so they can locate it when needed.

[beaconbouy]

hedders said:

I am single with no dependants and my parents are divorced. When I die who would get my house,life insurance, etc if i don't have a will? Would it go to my designated next of kin automatically? If my parents were dead, would my sister inherit? I am not planning on dying anytime soon, I am just curious cos my solicitor says I should write one (He should write me one), but i don't really care who gets my stuff so long as it stays in the family. Feel sorry for you, I could be a dependant

[adam2b]

Take a look at http://itclegal.com/customer/will_tracker.php theres some information on the site, I was happy with mine recently.

[vixpy1]

I don't have a will becuase its highly likely one of my friends would bump me off for my money..

[pmanson]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[Eric Mc]

It depends on the total value of the estate at date of death as to whether Gordon Brown gets anything. Under current Inheritance Tax (IHT) Limits, the estate has to be worth over £263,000 at the date of death.

If you are married, any assets and properties passed to your spouse on death are exempt from IHT. This does not apply to couples who are merely cohabiting, no matter how many years they've been together. In the eyes of the law, no relationship exists and they might as well be total strangers.

If you die without having made a will, and you are not married and you have no children, your assets are distributed in the following order:

Parents
Brothers and sisters or their children
Half brothers and sisters or their children
Grandparents
Uncles and aunts or their children
Parents' half brothers and sisters or their children

As you can see, none of your property "vests in the Crown" unless the above list is fully exhausted without any of your estate being distributed in full.
then and only then can the state take posession - it hardly ever happens.