What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

Many people assume that their estate will automatically pass to their family if they die without a Will. In England and Wales, that is not always the case. Where no valid Will exists, fixed legal rules known as the intestacy rules determine who inherits.

Dying without a Will is known as dying intestate. When this happens, the estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules rather than personal wishes.

These rules follow a strict legal order of priority. Depending on the circumstances, an estate may pass to a spouse or civil partner, children, parents, siblings, or more distant relatives.

Unmarried partners are not automatically entitled to inherit under the intestacy rules, regardless of how long the relationship lasted.

This can create outcomes that the deceased would not have wanted, particularly in blended families or where close friends or charities were intended beneficiaries.

There may also be uncertainty over who is entitled to deal with the estate, which can delay administration.

A properly drafted Will allows you to decide who inherits, appoint executors, and make clear arrangements based on your own circumstances rather than relying on fixed legal rules.

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FAQ

What does intestate mean?

It means a person has died without a valid Will.

Does everything go to my partner if I have no Will?

Not necessarily. Unmarried partners do not automatically inherit under intestacy rules.

Who inherits if there is no Will?

The intestacy rules decide this based on a legal order of priority.

Can dying without a Will delay things?

Yes. It can create uncertainty over who inherits and who can administer the estate.

If you would like advice on putting a valid Will in place, MJV Solicitors provide clear guidance and transparent pricing.

Purchase price	Our fee	VAT	Total
£0-£100,000	£600	£120	£720
£100,001 - £150,000	£650	£130	£780
£150,001 - £200,000	£700	£140	£840
£200,001 - £250,000	£750	£150	£900
£250,001 - £300,000	£800	£160	£960
£300,001 - £400,000	£850	£170	£1020
£400,001 - £500,000	£900	£180	£1080
£500,001 - £750,000	£1000	£200	£1200

Additional charge and explanation	Our fee	VAT	Total
Bank transfer fee	£30.00	£6.00	£36.00
Independent ID verification (per person)	£5.00	£1.00	£6.00

Charge	Our fee	VAT	Total
Purchase of a leasehold house	£100.00	£20.00	£120.00
Purchase of any other leasehold property	£150.00	£30.00	£180.00
Purchase of a shared ownership property	£250.00	£50.00	£300.00
Gifted deposit	£50.00	£10.00	£60.00
New build property	£250.00	£50.00	£300.00

Local Authority’s current search fee (if Blackpool, Wyre or Fylde)	£122.70 inc VAT
Drainage and Water search fee	£79.50 inc VAT
Environmental search	£71.40 inc VAT
Land Registry priority title search	£3.00 no VAT
Bankruptcy search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title	£2.00 no VAT
Land charges search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title	£2.00 no VAT

Purchase price	Land Registry registration fee (no VAT)
£0 - £80,000	£20.00 no VAT
£80,001 - £100,000	£40.00 no VAT
£100,001 - £200,000	£100.00 no VAT
£200,001 - £500,000	£150.00 no VAT
£500,001 - £1,000,000	£295.00 no VAT
£1,000,000 and above	£500.00 no VAT

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

FAQ

Call: 01253 858231

info@mjvlaw.co.uk

Cleveleys Office

Blackpool Office

Conveyancing price guide

Introductory paragraph explaining price transparency and why the costs are displayed below.

Purchasing

Selling

Purchase price	Our fee	VAT	Total
£0-£100,000	£600.00	£120.00	£720.00
£100,001 - £150,000	£650.00	£130.00	£780.00
£150,001 - £200,000	£700.00	£140.00	£840.00
£200,001 - £250,000	£750.00	£150.00	£900.00
£250,001 - £300,000	£800.00	£160.00	£960.00
£300,001 - £400,000	£850.00	£170.00	£1020.00
£400,001 - £500,000	£900.00	£180.00	£1080.00
£500,001 - £750,000	£1000.00	£200.00	£1200.00
Over £750,000	To be negotiated	To be applied	To be agreed