Vivien Bradley-Shaw, head of our Wills, Trusts and Probate department gives tips on making a Will, whether you are looking at one for yourself or assisting a family member in the completion of theirs.
The Inheritance and Trustees' Powers Act 2014 provides for changes to the intestacy rules and apply where a person dies on or after 1 October 2014 without a valid Will. When dying without a will, or 'intestacy' the law sets out what happens to your estate in the intestacy rules which says that only your spouse, civil partner, children or blood relatives can (but not always do) benefit from your estate.
This means that unmarried couples and long term partners are not protected. Your children and grandchildren may get nothing.
The Act provides for a missing person to be presumed dead in circumstances where the missing person either has died or has not been known to be alive for a period of at least seven years.
