What happens without a Will
- The Intestacy Rules decide on how your estate is distributed.
- Conflict between beneficiaries.
- Your children under the age of 18 could be placed in temporary foster care.
- Delays in distributing assets.
What happens with a Will
- You can leave clear instructions about how your estate is to be distributed.
- You can appoint guardians to look after your children who are under the age of 18.
- You can stipulate a sensible age for your beneficiaries to inherit.
- You can make specific gifts to individuals. These can range from items of jewellery to sums of cash and can avoid any family disputes over such items.
- You can decide who would look after your pets.
Should you pass away without making a Will, the government has already decided on to how your estate is to be distributed, this is called the Intestacy Rules. Unfortunately, this means that your estate may not pass to those that you want to.
The following individuals would have no right to inherit where someone has passed away without leaving a valid Will:
- Unmarried partners including those that are not in a Civil Partnership
- Relatives by marriage
- Close Friends
- Carers
- Charities
Guardianship (Children under the age of 18)
Once both parents pass away and you have children under the age of 18, each person that decides to look after your children would have to go to Court to apply, it is then up to the Court to decide on to whom will be responsible to look after your children. Until the Court determines this the Social Services will take your children.
If there is no family to look after your children, then they could end up on temporary foster care.
Why not stipulate your trusted individuals who you wish to look after your children within your Will today to avoid any distress.
People to consider
- Someone who is physically able and good of age
- Someone who follows your views and understanding (even including religious beliefs) of how you wish the child to be brought up.
- Someone who will think of the Childs future.
