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The administrative procedure if you do not have a Will is slower than if you appoint Executors in you Will who you know will respond quickly to make assets available to your survivors.
If you die without a Will, the law for England and Wales will distribute your Estate as follows -
| Family left behind | Distribution of the Estate |
| Spouse and children or grandchildren | First £125,000 and personal possessions to the spouse and any balance |
| - 50% to the children (or if a child is dead, his/her children) | |
| - 50% on trust for life to the spouse, going to the children on spouse's death | |
| Spouse but no children | If no parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, or nieces, then entire Estate to spouse. |
| Otherwise first £200,000 and personal possessions to spouse and any balance | |
| - 50% to spouse | |
| - 50% to parents (or if parents are dead, to brothers and sisters or their children). | |
| Children or grandchildren but no spouse | Estate is divided equally among children (or if a child is dead, his/her children) |
| No spouse or children or grandchildren, but other near relatives | Estate goes to the first of the following near realatives who are alive |
| - parents | |
| - brothers and sisters (or if dead, their children) | |
| - grandparents | |
| - aunts and uncles. | |
| No near-relatives | Estate goes to the Crown (effectively 100% tax) |
See also Overseas Assets, Power of attorney, Inheritance Tax, Inheritance Tax Trap, Inheritance Tax Calculation Request.
Reminder - disclaimer applies. Please feedback your comments. This page was last modified 28 August 2002.