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 they are "intestate". The property, the person's '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.
There is no necessity to have a will drawn up by a solicitor, but great care needs to be taken 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. You can also download wills from the internet or buy them in a standard format from legal stationers.
Some people believe that writing a will is morbid and somehow tempting fate, others never quite get around to it while some people make several wills during their lifetime as circumstances change. To help those who live on after and to ensure that your property is dealt with as you want it to be you need to make a will.
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