Local Citizens advice offices report increase in queries on intestate estate

Citizens advice have reported that the number of queries on intestate estates – which is the term for those of us who die without making a Will – has doubled in number over the last 5 years.

The calls highlight the complex and sometimes distressing situations families find themselves in when their loved one die without a Will. Along with registering the death and organising the funeral, the family of the bereaved find themselves with some practical problems to deal with.

Access to bank accounts and finances is an obvious issue. Bills will still need to be paid and in the short term funeral costs paid for.

The obvious consequence of not making a Will is, of course, the distribution of your assets. So you may think, these assets will go to my spouse and my children anyway. What you may not have thought about is the impact of it falling on your family to pay increased Inheritance Tax as a result.

So, making a Will now, even if you want to change it at a later date, is vital if you want to mitigate the suffering your family experiences, should the worse happen.

Contact us today on 0208 537 3448 or wills@ashtongrace.co.uk to make a Will.

Ashton Grace – Specialists in Peace of Mind