What happens if you don’t make a Will?

Mr C died in 2013, without leaving a Will. He was unmarried and had no children, but was survived by his father who was entitled under the intestacy rules to his estate.

Sadly, Mr C’s father died five months later.

Mr C’s father had also failed to make a Will and had no close relatives.

Relatives of Mr C’s father needed to be found who would be entitled to inherit the father’s estate (and through him Mr C’s estate).

Pearson Solicitors were able to trace a cousin of Mr C’s father who would be entitled to a share of the father’s estate. She was able to provide details of other family members. However, there were likely to be other relatives who would also be entitled.

We instructed genealogists to search for any other relatives. Their search took approximately 6 months and cost over £10,000.00.  Some relatives remained untraced and an insurance policy costing over £2,000.00 was needed.

In total more than 40 people were traced who would be entitled to the estates of Mr C and his father.

Some relatives will only inherit less than 1% of the value of the estate and many of these relatives were not known to Mr C or his father.

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Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.

This blog was posted some time ago and its contents may now be out of date. For the latest legal position relating to these issues, get in touch with the author - or make an enquiry now.