The Rules of Intestacy – England and Wales
Are you married or in a civil
partnership?
Yes
Spouse/civil
partner get’s
everything?
No
Is your estate worth
more than
£250,000?
Yes
Spouse/civil gets
£250,000 and a life
interest in half the
remainder.
Children get the
rest
Yes
Do you have
children?
No
Spouse/civil gets
first £450,000 plus
half the balance,
rest shared
between them
Spouse/civil
partner get’s first
£450,000 plus half
the balance, rest
shared between
them
Yes
Do you have
parents?
No
Yes
Do you have
brothers and
sisters?
No
Everything goes to
spouse/civil partner
No
Do you have
children?
Shared equally
between them
Yes
No
Do you have living
parents?
Shared equally
between them
Yes
No
Do you have
brothers and
sisters?
Yes
Shared equally
between them
Yes
Shared equally
between them
Yes
Shared equally
between them
No
Do you have any
living
grandparents?
No
Do you have any
uncles and aunts?
No
Everything goes to the Crown (Government) or to
the Duchy of Cornwall or to the Duchy of
Lancaster, if resident in those areas