INTESTACY RULES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROTHERA DOWSON AND HM GOVERNMENT

THE SECOND RELATIONSHIP

 

If you’ve not made a Will yet, don’t worry! The Law of England & Wales in effect writes one for everyone dying without a Will, through the Intestacy Rules.

People generally like to leave their estates to close family. But who gets your estate if there’s no Will? If you re-marry, there’s a real risk that your children will lose out. If you don’t, your new partner is at risk of your children going for eviction.

Imagine a couple each with adult children from a previous relationship

Here’s his “Invisible Will” in Plain English.  Hers will be similar.

This is the Last Will and Testament (imposed by HM Government) of me Mr BETTER LUCK THIS TIME who (despite not making a Will) am of sound mind etc.

1. My funeral wishes...

… are of no interest. I hope there will be no dispute between my kids and my new partner as to who gets to organise the funeral and dispose of my ashes etc.

2. I appoint as my executors …

… either my kids or my new partner (whichever gets my estate – see below).

3. If I am remarried by the time I die, I leave my children …

… nothing, unless I have assets over £250,000 in my own name, when they can have a bit now and a bit later. Everything else goes to my new wife. But she also has no Will, so after she dies, it can all go to her kids, or to her next partner. That’s if there’s any left after her "little problem".

4. If I’ve not married my new partner, I leave her …

… nothing. It all goes to my children. If she doesn’t like that, or if they try to evict her, they’ll need to fight it out in court.

5. I leave my friends, carers and neighbours …

… nothing.

6. I leave my church and my favourite charities …

… nothing.

7.  leave ex-wife … 

… nothing. Unless the kids (now her sole next of kin) pass it on.

8. I leave my Death in Service benefits to …

… who knows?

9. I leave the taxman …

… as much as he can get.  I know the Government needs it.

10. In short …

… I leave a mess.

 

Signed (in invisible ink) by me Mr 

Better Luck This Time as my 

Last Will whether I really want it or not:

 

 

 

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 and Probate department on 0800 124 4012.