Whether it's down to inertia, feeling too young or too poor, or just not wanting to think about death, a staggering six out of 10 UK adults do not have a valid will in place. But, although the rules of intestacy, which govern how your estate is divided if you die without a will were recently modernised, you still risk your plans going awry if you don't have the necessary paperwork in place.
The rules of intestacy were changed on 1 October 2014 in England and Wales. "It's pleasing that the changes to the rules have simplified matters," says James Antoniou, head of wills at Co-operative Legal Services. "But, if you die without a valid will in place, your final wishes about what happens to your estate may not be met."
New rules