When a person dies without leaving a will the law dictates what is to happen to their possessions, be it a few pounds, some cherished objects or jewellery, or a large amount of money.
Whatever the amount of property, no account will be given to the wishes of the deceased if there is no will.
When somebody dies without a will the law says they are "intestate". The property, the person's "estate", is divided among members of the family, after all the bills are paid, under the strict rules of the Administration of Estates Act.
Wills sound like a very complicated legal process, which tends to make people shirk away from them. In fact a will is a letter of wish of how someone's assets should be distributed when they die. It becomes a little more complicated when children and relatives need to be taken into consideration.
A will does not have to be drawn up by a solicitor, although many solicitors provide a will-writing service at reasonable cost. Great care needs to be taken with what is a very important document that must be correctly signed. Sorting out an unclear will can lead to long and expensive court cases. There are many books, guides and printed forms available to help you. Nowadays you can download wills from the internet or buy them in a standard format from legal stationers. There are also will writers and advice on-line:
Some people believe that writing a will is morbid and somehow tempting fate; others never quite get around to it while some people make several wills during their lifetime as circumstances change. To help those who live on after you and to ensure that your property is dealt with as you want it to be you need to make a will.