What happens if you dont have a will?

Think you don’t need a Will yet? Here’s what actually happens if you die without one in the UK.

Spoiler: it’s not what most people expect.

What does “dying intestate” mean?

Dying without a Will is called dying intestate.

When this happens, your money, property, and belongings are distributed according to a fixed set of rules — not your wishes, not your family’s needs, and certainly not what’s “fair.”

The law follows a rigid formula called the Intestacy Rules — and it doesn’t care about your personal situation.

Who gets what if you don’t have a Will?

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works in England and Wales (Scotland has similar rules with a few key differences):

If you’re married or in a civil partnership:

Your spouse gets the first £322,000, all your personal possessions, and half of the remaining estate. The other half goes to your children — even if they’re very young.

If you’re unmarried but have a partner:

They get nothing. Unmarried partners are not legally entitled to anything, no matter how long you’ve been together.

If you have children:

They inherit your estate equally (after any spousal share). If they’re under 18, the money is held in trust.

If you have no spouse or children:

The estate passes to your next closest blood relatives in a strict order: parents, then siblings, then nieces/nephews, and so on.

If no relatives can be found:

The Crown (HM Treasury) inherits everything.

What’s the problem with this?

The biggest issue is loss of control.

• You can’t leave anything to close friends or chosen family.
• You can’t protect young children with proper guardianship or delayed access.
• You can’t stop irresponsible relatives from inheriting.
• And your partner, stepchildren, or favourite charities get nothing.

Real-world consequences

Imagine this:
You’ve been with your partner for 15 years. You rent a home together, share finances, and raise a stepchild. You die unexpectedly.
They get nothing.
Your estranged cousin — who you haven’t seen in 10 years — could end up with it all.

This isn’t rare. It happens all the time.

The solution? Write a Will. Now.

Writing a Will puts you in control. It lets you:

• Decide exactly who gets what
• Appoint trusted executors
• Name guardians for children
• Protect assets through trusts
• Leave gifts to friends, causes, or anyone you choose

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to cost £100s.
But it does need to be legally valid.

Grab your Last Will & Testament Pack (UK)

This easy-to-use Will Pack is helping people across the UK take control of their legacy with confidence.

Includes:

• Ready-to-fill Last Will & Testament
• Optional Letter of Wishes
• Executor’s Checklist
• Full guide and FAQs

You can download it instantly and have your Will sorted in less than 1 hour.