What does it mean if someone passed without a will?

When a person has passed without a will, they are considered to have died intestate. Their estate is distributed under the UK’s intestacy rules. Full details can be found on the GOV.UK intestacy guide .

Who inherits if a loved one has passed without a will?

The rules follow a fixed order: spouse or civil partner, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, nieces/nephews, and other relatives. If no relatives are found, everything goes to the Crown. See the Government’s intestacy rules for the full hierarchy.

What happens to unmarried partners if someone passed without a will?

Unmarried partners are not recognised under intestacy laws. They receive nothing automatically, even if they lived together for decades. Age UK explains why making a will is essential in this situation.

Can stepchildren inherit if a parent passed without a will?

No. Stepchildren are excluded from intestacy rules unless they have been formally adopted. Without a will, they cannot automatically inherit.

What happens if a parent passed without a will and leaves young children?

If children are under 18, the court decides who manages their inheritance until they reach adulthood. A will would normally appoint guardians and trustees, but without one, the court makes the decision.

Does remarriage affect what happens if you passed without a will?

Yes. Marriage usually cancels an existing will. If someone passes away after remarrying and does not make a new will, intestacy rules apply, which can drastically change who inherits.

If my spouse passed without a will, do I inherit everything?

Not always. A spouse or civil partner receives the first £322,000 of the estate plus half of the remainder. The other half may go to children. This can cause disputes if the deceased assumed “everything goes to my partner.”

What happens if someone passed without a will and had no close family?

If no relatives qualify under the rules, the estate passes to the Crown. This process is known as bona vacantia. More information is available on the GOV.UK bona vacantia page .

Author: Saima Omar

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