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Without a Will/Intestacy
If someone dies without a will they are said to have died ‘intestate’, the administration of their estate is an 'intestacy’ and the people dealing with the estate are known as ‘administrators’. The estate will be distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy as laid down by the government. These rules change from time to time.
It is a common misconception that if you are married or in a civil partnership and you die intestate, all of your assets automatically pass to your spouse or partner. This is not the case. The rules of intestacy are complex and the distribution of the estate depends on the makeup of the family, the nature and extent of the assets involved and the way in which those assets are held.
Whether a person has made a will or dies intestate the estate needs to be administered. An accurate report of the assets in the estate must be sent to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It is then vital to ensure that the estate is distributed to the correct beneficiaries. At Hart Brown our team of specialist lawyers regularly deal with intestate estates. We can advise on who is entitled to what and assist with tracking down missing beneficiaries
You can of course avoid all of these difficulties by making a will.
To speak to someone who can help with making a will or estate administration call, email or request a call back from one of our specialist lawyers.
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