Your will tells everyone what should happen to your
money, possessions and property after you die (all these
things together are called your ‘estate’). If you don’t leave
a will, the law decides how your estate is passed on – and
this might not be in line with your wishes.
We probably all understand that we should have a
Will but the reality is that most of us don’t have one
(2/3 according to BBC News) so it’s important to
understand what will happen to our estate if we die
without a Will (intestate).
Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes
are carried out after your death. If you have not made a
valid Will, your property will pass according to the Law of
Intestacy.
This may not be what you would have wished. In any
event it is more than likely to take longer to finalise than
if you had made a Will. During this time your beneficiaries
may not be able to draw any money from your estate.
It can lead to arguments and distress for your relatives.
If you’re married with children, then your spouse may not
automatically inherit everything that you own, instead your
estate may be divided between your spouse and children,
which is not what most people usually want.
If you are not married, then no matter how committed
and in love you may be, your partner may not get any of
your assets.
We hold indemnity cover for every will that we write,
for your peace of mind.
It’s easy to make a will,
and it will save your family
unnecessary distress at
an already difficult time.