What happens if your parents die and they have no will?

haaammit · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:18

As title - what happens to their belongings/assets/property if they die without a will?
Many thanks

D83 · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:19

Then it goes to next of kin to contest who gets what.

LOAM · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:21

Planning something ?.....

haaammit · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:22

D83 said:
Then it goes to next of kin to contest who gets what.

Many thanks - they both have many siblings, but only one offspring - who counts as next of kin? Siblings and offspring, or just offspring?

Brian8bit · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:22

Offspring first, then siblings.

haaammit · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:23

LOAM said:
Planning something ?.....

No - it came up in conversation that p and em don't have wills - em thinks making one will cause something terrible to happen (from what I can make out from the conversation with my dad

)

Vonhelmet · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:23

CAB to the rescue!

Blimey, it's complicated as all hell.

IrishChr1s · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:25

The offspring fight for years over who get what.

Mr-White · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:25

Brian8bit said:
Government first, Offspring, then siblings.

Fixed

MW

D83 · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:27

Mr-White said:
Fixed

MW

Heh

Yeah tax man wants his slice of the pie before anyone else.

haaammit · 21 Sep 2011 at 00:38

Vonhelmet said:
CAB to the rescue!

Blimey, it's complicated as all hell.

Cheers for the link, but owwwww - brain ache :eek:

The conversation came about because I was telling my dad that we (my wife and I) had recently made wills so our daughter would be looked after both financially and cared for in the event of our deaths. Our wishes regarding the disposal of our bodies has also been included, along with personal requests regarding the funeral.

Sounds a bit grim, but my mother-in-law died recently with no clear instructions on cremation/burrial etc and a very vague will. My wife is now a financial trustee for four children (only one is her child). We want to make sure all is sorted in the event of our deaths. Whilst telling my old man what we had done/sorted, he told me they had now wills as my mum thinks it's courting fate :rolleyes:

Just after some info really.

Mum hates her family and my dad is indifferent to his. They obviously like me and absolutely dote on my daughter

I'm sure they would want everything to pass to me, but would that legally happen?

Many thanks - sorry for the ramble

pingwing · 21 Sep 2011 at 01:16

Probate from some living relatives (oldest kids, one if everyone is over 18, 2 if not) then you sort it out as a family like sensible adults

Pawnless Endgame · 21 Sep 2011 at 07:47

Haha, nice post Mr White. Gov't first, then offspring then siblings. Don't the solicitor take a fairly hefty chuck also? (I guess it's situational though).

Vonhelmet · 21 Sep 2011 at 07:57

The revenues collected from inheritance tax are tiny. There's speculation that it costs more to administer than they make from it. Most people just aren't rich enough to pay it.

eXist · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:05

eXist · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:07

LOAM said:
Planning something ?.....

lol

Raikiri · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:12

Standard 'shotgun' rules apply, whoever calls it gets it. Unless you actually have a shotgun, in which case no need to call it.

Cosimo · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:23

Just tell them you won’t get a penny when they die if they don’t hurry up and write a will. Tell them to give it a quick thought and that you'll arrange for them to see a solicitor.

Luke · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:39

It is a nightmare.

My dad died without a will and we had months and months of headache with his new wife who was hellbent on excluding myself and my brother from getting a penny. She did pretty well to be honest.

edscdk · 21 Sep 2011 at 08:42

Quink said:
As title - what happens to their belongings/assets/property if they die without a will?
Many thanks

get them to write a will before they die.... as others probably say further down it will go to probate / next of kin...