Welcome to
Intestacy Rules
Here you will find information about what happens when someone dies without a will, what law applies to such situation, and the last changes on the regulations.
Intestacy Guide
Containing useful information and answers to some common questions.
- Information on Letters of Administration
- What is a Personal Representative
- How to find an Administrator
- What is the Chain of Representation
- What is a Grant de Bonis Non
The Rules of Intestacy
Intestacy Rules have changed many times over the years, below you will find what changes happened for each year.
Intestacy Rules
2009
Intestacy Rules
2014
Intestacy Rules
2020
What Does Intestacy Mean?
Intestacy is the situation that occurs when someone dies without leaving clear instructions about what to do with their estate which would include any money and properties.
Since there can be strong economic interests related to the inheritance and people have historically tried to cheat in this regard, in order to give instructions about what to do with their estate when one dies, the person needs to make a will. For this reason the Rules of Intestacy exist. Thus, if there is no will, it is as if there are no instructions about what to do with the estate.
In other words, intestacy is the situation that occurs when someone dies without a will. Notice that even if the deceased person had some desires about what to do with the estate, if there is no will, such desires do not really matter because there is no way to prove them.
As you may wonder, this usually brings difficult issues. In this website, we explain what you need to know to face that situation.
Intestacy Chart – 2020
Below is the intestacy chart updated with the latest changes.
Click the image to zoom in.
Important concepts related to Intestacy
We’ve compiled some common concepts that make people have doubts.
What are letters of administration?
Who is entitled to a letter of administration?
What happens if an executor dies without a will?
How to distribute an intestate estate?
What is a grant de bonis non administratis?
Dying with Unsecured Debt
What Can I Do?
If you want to avoid intestacy and you want to discuss will and probate matters, you can ask for help at IWC Probate & Will Services. Making a will will save a lot of time and likely money for your future heirs.
Visit
IWC Probate Services
IWC Specialise in all areas of probate. They can help with the entire probate process or offer advice when it comes to intestacy.
Visit
Fleetwood Heir Hunters
If you are already facing an intestate situation, you may need to find the legal heirs. Fleetwood Heir Hunters specialise in that exact area.
Visit
Willfinda
Unsure if a Will was left behind? WillFinda is capable of searching a national database of Wills, visit their website for full details.
The Rules of Intestacy Blog
You’ll find helpful blog posts regarding Probate, Letters of Administration, Rules of Intestacy, Will Writing and so much more. Check back regularly for new posts.
Establishing the Value of an Estate for Probate
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How to Determine Your Inheritance Rights in the UK
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How to Avoid Inheritance Disputes
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What Happens if a Beneficiary Dies During Probate?
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What Does Contentious Probate Mean?
When a deceased person's will is contested or disputed, it is referred to as contentious probate. For a variety of reasons, wills can be contested, which...