Liam Payne, sadly passed away without a Will.

Liam Payne, sadly passed away without a Will.

What are the Current Intestacy Rules when someone passes away without a Will?

In light of the recent news reports that singer, Liam Payne, sadly passed away without a Will, you may be wondering what this will mean for his family. In his case, his entire estate is to pass to his young son, with other close family members and his partner not receiving a share of his reported £24m fortune.

The legal term “intestate” meaning dying without a valid Will in place. The rules of intestacy are governed by the Administration of Estates Act 1925, and dictate how your estate is distributed when you die without leaving a Will.

As soon as an individual reaches the age of 18 (or even earlier, if that person is on active duty in the armed forces), they can legally make a Will no matter what assets they have.  It is never too early to make a Will and, if the intestacy rules come into force instead, questions can be raised as to whether a person’s estate will be distributed as they would have wished. In the case of Amy Winehouse, for example, her estate passed to her parents under the intestacy rules despite alleged family rifts.

Beyond distribution of assets, passing away without a valid Will can cause a host of problems for your loved ones including additional time, costs and potential family disputes, such as who should be the administrator of your estate. These disputes can be emotionally draining and a financial burden for them at an already extremely difficult time.

Taking the time to make a Will and keep it up to date allows you to have control over what happens to your property, money and personal belongings once you pass away, but also takes some of the pressure off those you leave behind. Steps can also be taken to potentially mitigate a significant inheritance tax bill which, sadly, the family of Liam Payne may now have to deal with.

If you are concerned about what would happen if you were to pass away without a valid Will in place, Kerseys Solicitors LLP can help.

Contact Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich at [email protected] or telephone 01473 213311 or Kerseys Solicitors in Felixstowe at [email protected]
on 01394 834557 or Kerseys Solicitors in  Woodbridge at [email protected] on 01394 813732 or Kerseys Solicitors in Colchester
at [email protected] on 01206 584584 where a member of our Private Client Law team will be happy to speak with you.