It should be noted that the information contained in this section relates to our current understanding of the law of England & Wales which is subject to change. Laws in other parts of the UK will differ.

What happens if you don't make a will?

Everything you leave when you die, less anything you owe, is called your 'estate'. A will sets out what is to happen to your estate. It is a legal document which, although it can be changed after your death in some circumstances, will normally be followed as written.

Dying without a will (called dying intestate) can cause unnecessary hardship for your survivors:

  • Delays would be incurred in trying to find out whether or not you did in fact leave a will, and in tracing your possessions.
  • Delays would occur in the necessary formalities required before your estate can be distributed.
  • Your next of kin will usually be appointed to sort out your estate, and he or she might not be the best person to do the job.
  • The law dictates who will inherit your estate and in what proportions depending on whether you were married and/or have any children or grandchildren.

The rules do not recognise unmarried partners (although a partner may be able to make a claim on your estate):

  • The law may require legally binding trusts to be set up. These may be unnecessarily restrictive and expensive, especially where only small sums are involved.
  • There may be inheritance tax on the estate which could have been avoided.

Another very important reason for making a will is so that you can decide who you want to look after your children if you have a young family.

If you do not make a will, your possessions will not necessarily be passed on in the way you would choose. This is a particular risk if you live with an unmarried partner.

(Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Body

It should be noted that the information contained in this section relates to our current understanding of the law of England & Wales which is subject to change. Laws in other parts of the UK will differ.

What happens if you don't make a will?

Everything you leave when you die, less anything you owe, is called your 'estate'. A will sets out what is to happen to your estate. It is a legal document which, although it can be changed after your death in some circumstances, will normally be followed as written.

Dying without a will (called dying intestate) can cause unnecessary hardship for your survivors:

  • Delays would be incurred in trying to find out whether or not you did in fact leave a will, and in tracing your possessions.
  • Delays would occur in the necessary formalities required before your estate can be distributed.
  • Your next of kin will usually be appointed to sort out your estate, and he or she might not be the best person to do the job.
  • The law dictates who will inherit your estate and in what proportions depending on whether you were married and/or have any children or grandchildren.

The rules do not recognise unmarried partners (although a partner may be able to make a claim on your estate):

  • The law may require legally binding trusts to be set up. These may be unnecessarily restrictive and expensive, especially where only small sums are involved.
  • There may be inheritance tax on the estate which could have been avoided.

Another very important reason for making a will is so that you can decide who you want to look after your children if you have a young family.

If you do not make a will, your possessions will not necessarily be passed on in the way you would choose. This is a particular risk if you live with an unmarried partner.

(Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Warning Text

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ADVICE AND SERVICES IN RELATION TO WILLS AND WILL WRITING IS NOT PROVIDED UNDER THE AGENCY OF QUILTER FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND QUILTER FINANCIAL PLANNING ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ASPECT OF OUR BUSINESS.

THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY DOES NOT REGULATE ADVICE AND SERVICES ON ESTATE PLANNING OR WILL WRITING.

Other Areas of Expertise

Andrea - mid 50s

business owner

I came to see Josh not only helping me plan for my retirement but also in helping me look after a Trust fund for my Nieces. Josh is always quick to respond to queries and deals with all requests in a timely and efficient manner. I feel very comfortable in the fact that if I ask for something to be done or need some advice he ALWAYS delivers.
I have not always had this service from other financial advisors. I would happily recommend Josh to anyone needing financial support.

 

Trevor

Power of Attorney

Following our mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis and admission into a residential care home, my sister and I were looking for financial advice on the options available to fund her care. Our main concern before speaking with Josh was finding an adviser who would provide us with sound financial advice.
Josh provided us with various funding options relating to our mother's residential care provision. These options gave my sister and I the information we needed to determine the best way forward in respect of funding our mother's care needs. Josh provided clear, concise, and timely financial advice, and responses to all our questions were swift, friendly, and easy to understand. He also went out of his way to secure an immediate needs care annuity within the timescales required to meet my mother's urgent funding needs.
My sister and I received excellent support from Warwick Road Financial Services and believe that, without Josh's assistance, we would have struggled to achieve a successful outcome.
My sister and I have a cautious approach when it comes to making major financial decisions. We believe the approach used, and the advice offered by Warwick Road Financial Services, would be of benefit to people who, like us, have a cautious approach when it comes to financial matters.

Darren

IT professional – requiring and receiving ongoing Pre-retirement advice

I approached Jethro several years ago because my wife and I really hadn’t paid any attention to our pension planning. Jethro helped us by identifying various plans from previous employers, and a personal plan that I’d left to stagnate from my contracting days.
The result was that Jethro managed to consolidate all these into single managed portfolios for each of us. One thing we really liked was his clear explanation, regular communication, and friendly but professional approach. He explained things to us in language we could both understand. We found the experience very easy to navigate thanks to Jethro’s detailed and clear explanation and guidance.
We would recommend Jethro to people who need a full-service pension professional to guide them clearly and safely through their options and manage the entire process for them.

Miss Parker

I instructed Claire Adams from Warwick Road Financial services to assist me with consolidating my various pensions into one with Quilter.
Claire took care of everything on my behalf and kept me updated at all times.  Clare was extremely professional, efficient and explained everything in great detail. 
As I was so impressed I also took out life cover, which again Claire found the best deal and it was set up almost instantly.
I would highly recommend Claire to future clients, friends and family as I know they will receive a first-class Service.

Steve

58, Director

We originally approached Lawrence because we were looking for help with our insurance/mortgage and general finances, whilst in our early 20’s.
Before we had met you, we were concerned about obtaining financial advice from somebody who we didn’t know or wasn’t recommended, due to a family members previous bad experience.
Lawrence helped us by putting us at ease, explaining everything in layman’s terms, so that we understood the advice and were always given opportunities to wait, delay or decline any plans that were offered.
As a result, almost 30 years later we still see Lawrence at least once per year to discuss our current situation and our plans. We are in an excellent position financially regarding our mortgage, savings and pensions, largely thanks to Lawrence.
One thing I really like is the trustworthy and friendly attitude he has always shown towards us.
I found the experience very comforting, knowing that our finances were being taken care of by a professional and that our long-term plans were reachable.
The sort of person that would benefit most from using them would be a young couple, starting out in their careers, as we were when we first met Lawrence.

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