20/05/2026
When someone dies without a Will, they are said to have died intestate. This means the law, rather than your loved one's own wishes, determines who receives the estate.
Here is how it works in England and Wales.
The rules of intestacy set out which relatives are entitled to inherit, in a fixed legal order. This may mean people your loved one would have wanted to benefit receive nothing, whilst others receive more than was ever intended.
The law also determines who has the right to administer the estate. This person is known as the Administrator, rather than an Executor, and they must first obtain a Grant of Letters of Administration from the Probate Registry before they can begin dealing with the estate.
It is a more complex process than when a Will is in place, which is why having a professionally drafted Will matters so much.
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