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Warning as numbers dying
without a Will increase
MORE priority should be placed on
making a Will as it was revealed there has been an increase in the number of
people dying without 1.
According to Citizens Advice, the charity received more than 3,700 enquiries in
2015 relating to dying without a Will; known as intestate. This was more than
double the figure in 2011.
Dying intestate means that the rules of intestacy will decide who inherits an
estate, which may not be in line with what the deceased would have wanted. This
can cause arguments within families and make a stressful time more difficult for
surviving family members.
Most statistics report that around
⅔ of Britons don't have a Will, and
Elizabeth Byrne, Solicitor in the Wills and Estate Planning team at Napthens Solicitors in Southport, warns that many people are unaware of what dying
without one can mean.
She said:- "These latest statistics from Citizens Advice are shocking. It
is clear that, still, not enough people understand the importance of making a
Will.
This leaves people in the difficult situation where they face dealing with a
relative's estate in the best way they can.
However, most private individuals are not experts and often struggle. We have
seen cases where relatives of those who have died but not left a Will have ended
up significantly out of pocket thanks to the process, surely something the
deceased would never have wanted. It is important to make a Will as early
as possible and to consult an expert when having it drawn up. The document
should then be updated every few years or whenever there is a significant change
in circumstances such as a child being born."
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