Inheritance

ci_newman said:
They need a will, pure and simple.

It basically boils down to whole dies first. If your Mother died first (without a will), her daughters and you will be entitled to her estate as next of kin (and your father wouldn't be entitled to anything).

If your father dies first, you would be sole-heir to his entire estate (or the portion of it he owned with your mother).
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Yup and if they do get married and still don't get a will combined estate then belongs to the surviving partner and after they pass OP either gets 25% of the total estate or 100% of it depending on whether his father survives or not. (Minus taxes etc..)

I don't understand why people don't do basic things like getting married and writing wills etc.. if they're old enough to have adult children.

You hear some weird "vibes" based objections from some re: not believing in marriage but these days you can call it a civil partnership even. Also, a will seems like an obvious thing if you've got children, Really the OP and his half-siblings ought to be proactive in pushing the parents to deal with this. (Unless he doesn't get on with his sisters as he stands to gain more if there is no will).

This happened in my family with an uncle/great uncle - he and his wife had no kids and neither had a will in the end, it just happened that his wife died first and so when he passed their house and assets got split among his relatives.
 
Rage85 said:
There's isn't a will.
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They really, really need to write wills and register them with the relevant Office of the Public Guardian. One or the other could easily find themselves homeless. If they fail to do the former then intestacy laws will apply and the only winners will be the lawyers.
 
Maybe they deliberately didn’t do a will because the idea of everyone getting into a grubby death match over their money amused them.

But more seriously broach the topic with them- why haven’t you got a will? Be transparent and mention to the other beneficiaries and if it’s due to lack of money or understanding of how to get a will then you and the others could club together a couple
Of hundred quid each and get an appointment plus drafting sorted for your folks.
 
Rage85 said:
How does it work for couples not married?

Ie my parents own a property, they aren't married, I have 3 half sisters (mother's daughters) who will the Inheritance go to when they die?

There's isn't a will.
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When either of the couple dies, the house will then belong to the surviving partner right? They could then go on to marry another person to complicate things even more. The surviving partner might need to go to a care home also.

Don't bank in getting anything.
 
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My mum died without a will (or was there one? I'll never know!) Stepdad got the house etc and my brother and i got **** all. When he dies i know it will go to his daughters.

Get them to make a will asap to save heartache and to ensure their wishes are fulfilled.

Most charities offer a will writing service for free - although you will be asked to leave a donation to them - which is fair.
 
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Based on recent experience, if they do make a will - which they clearly should - then they should tell everyone what's in it.

My uncle was cut up to find out that he had a massively reduced share of my grandparents' estate. He found out after my grandparents had died, and my father has to deal with the fall out, which isn't OK. Whilst my grandfather was alive, he should have told my uncle why he was getting a reduced share (because he moved to another country just when they really started to need him, leaving my parents, my sister, and I to look after them).
 
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