When a person dies without leaving a will the law dictates what is to
happen to their possessions be it a few pounds, some cherished objects
or jewellery or a large amount of money.
Whatever the amount of property no account will be given to the wishes of the deceased if there is no will.
When somebody dies without a will the law says he is "intestate".
The property, the persons "estate" is divided among members of the
family under strict rules contained in the Administration of Estates Act
after all bills are paid.
A will is a letter of wish of how someone's assets should be
distributed in the event of their death. It becomes a little more
complicated with children and relatives that need to be taken into
consideration.
There is no necessity to have a will drawn up by a solicitor but
great care needs to be taken as sorting out an unclear will can lead to
long and expensive court cases. There are many books and guides and
printed forms available to help you. Nowadays you can download wills
from the Internet or buy them in a standard format from legal
stationers.
Advice and guidance
