DYING WITHOUT MAKING A WILL

BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROTHERA DOWSON AND HM GOVERNMENT

THE DIVORCED DAD WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

If you've not made a Will yet, think again. The Law of England & Wales in effect writes one for everyone dying without a Will, through the Intestacy Rules.

Most people leave some family, so their estates don't usually go to the Government. But if you die without a Will, who gets your estate depends on who survives and how much you leave. Often the result is fine, but sometimes it's not. For example:

Imagine you are a divorced dad with young children.

Here's your "Invisible Will" in Plain English.

This is the Last Will and Testament imposed by H M Government on me Mr DIVORCED-TWO-KIDS who (despite not making a Will) am of sound mind:

1 My funeral wishes are ...
... of no interest once I'm dead. I've been to a few grim funerals in my time. One more won't hurt those attending it.

2 I leave my children to ...
... the wife, and then to anyone who'll take them on. Possibly into care with Social Services - there aren't many proper orphanages nowadays. The kids will cope. Won't they?

3 If I am waiting for my decree absolute ...
... I still leave everything to the wife. Who else?

4 If the divorce has come through, I appoint as my executors ...
... my ex-wife and her new partner. I want them (and only them) to take full charge of sorting things out when I die. I fully trust her and her new partner.

4 I leave the taxman ...
... as much as he can get. I know the Government needs it.

5 I leave all my personal effects, all my investments, and my house etc ...
... tied up in a pretty inflexible trust. On each child's 18th birthday, hand them one BIG cheque for what's left of their share - they'll know what to do with it.

6 I appoint as Trustees of my children's Trust Fund ...
... my ex-wife and her new partner. Who better to handle all that cash?

7 I leave my Death in Service benefits to ...
... who knows?

8 I leave my friends and other family members …
... nothing.

9 I leave my favourite charities ...
... nothing.

10 I leave the person I now live with ...
... nothing. If she feels left out, she can sue my kids. That'll be fun.

11 In short ...
... I leave a bit of a mess.

Signed (in invisible ink) by me Mr
Divorced-Two-Kids as my Last Will
whether I really want it or not:

D T Kids 

IF THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT, YOU NEED TO WRITE A WILL.

ROTHERA DOWSON CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS.

It won't cost much. And what it does cost is money you'll never in fact need to spend on yourself. Treat it as a first instalment of what you're leaving to the people you do want to inherit.

For more information contact our Wills department on 0800 124 4012.