Wills and testaments

When a person dies without leaving a will, the law dictates what is to happen to their possessions be it a few pounds, some cherished objects or jewellery, or a large amount of money. Whatever the amount of property, no account will be given to the wishes of the deceased if there is no will.

When somebody dies without a will the law says he is "intestate". The property, the persons "estate", is divided among members of the family under strict rules contained in the Administration of Estates Act after all bills are paid.

Wills sound like a very complicated legal process, which tends to make people shirk away from them. In truth, a will is a letter of wish of how someone's assets should be distributed in the event of their death. It becomes a little more complicated with children and relatives that need to be taken into consideration.

Although there is no necessity to have a will drawn up by a solicitor, great care is needed as sorting out an unclear will can lead to long and expensive court cases. There are many books, guides and printed forms available to help you. Nowadays you can download wills from the internet or buy them in a standard format from legal stationers. There are also will-writers and advice online.

For more advice visit The Society of Will Writers (opens in a new window) website.

It should be noted that we do not offer any advice on the writing of wills and any person considering making a will, unless they do it themselves, is advised to seek proper legal advice.

Information on other websites

The society of will writers (opens in a new window)

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