What do you do if there is no will? If someone dies without making a will, they are said to have died ‘intestate’. If this happens the law sets out who should deal with the deceased’s affairs and who should inherit their estate. This information covers England and Wales only. When there is no will, dealing with the estate can be complicated.
It can also take a long time – months or even longer in some very complex cases. If matters are complex or you feel you need help, it’s a good idea to consult a solicitor as soon as possible.
Show them all the information and documentation you have about the deceased person’s property, belongings and financial affairs. In the meantime, it may be a good idea to put small valuable items away for safekeeping.
Who else should you contact? When someone dies you may have to contact a wide variety of organisations to inform them of the death.
In many cases you’ll need to close down accounts or cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, agreements, payments or direct debits. You may have to send some organisations a death certificate.
You can use the following as a checklist to see if you have contacted everyone you need:
Car q DVLA – Vehicle registration / Driving Licence
q Insurance provider q Breakdown Cover
Money / Policies q Bank / Building Society q Credit Cards q Accountant q Premium Bonds Office q National Savings and Investments q NI Contributions Office (Self Employed) q Pension providers (state/personal) q Hire Purchase agreement / Loan provider
Benefits q Child Benefit Allowance q Child Tax Credit q Disability Allowance q Local Authority – Blue Badge q Any other benefits received via Job Centre Plus
Household / Utilities q Mortgage Provider / Landlord q Gas q Electric q Water / Sewage q Telephone / Internet Provider / Mobile q Council Tax q House Insurance q TV Licence
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