Making a Will is relatively straightforward and not very expensive. However, in spite of this, seven out of ten people in the UK die without a Will.
“In the absence of a signed Will, and for those living in England and Wales (rules vary in Scotland), the government dictates who gets what of your estate, depending on your domestic circumstances”, said Mr Crossland of Will Drafters.
Here are the current rules as to who gets what:
Married with Children (separated people are treated under these rules as still being married)
Your spouse gets:-
a) car and house contents, plus
b) first £125,000 of your estate, plus
c) 6% interest on half of any surplus (only interest, your spouse cannot touch the capital)Plus, your children (stepchildren get nothing) get:-
a) half of any excess over £125,000 outright, plus
b) the other half of the excess when your spouse has also died
Married with No Children but with Parents and/or Brothers and Sisters
Your spouse gets:-
a) car and house contents, plus
b) first £200,000 of your estate, plus
c) half of any excess over £200,000 outrightPlus, your parents or (if none alive) your brothers and sisters get:-
a) Balance ie half of any excess over £200,000 outright
Married with Children and No Parents or Brothers and Sisters
Your spouse gets everything
Single, Widowed or Divorced (but not separated)
Everything goes to your children (if any), otherwise to your parents (if alive), otherwise to your brothers and sisters (or their children), otherwise your grandparents (if alive), otherwise your uncles and aunts (or their children), otherwise to the government!
You don’t want your estate to be teated as government property – do you?
For further details and a Will Drafters’ free Will brochure Click Here
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