What happens if you do not have a will or funeral arrangements done by the age of 40?

Question

I mean we have ours done, but I know of some that don't and have a house and children. I keep trying to tell them, you need to get it done. But, I really don't know what happens if you don't have anything in writting. Does it have to be legalized?
What happens?

Answer 1

It goes to probate court. Depending on where you are different things can happen. Whoever does the probate can leave people out of it who have a claim to the estate. That includes relatives or creditors.

Answer 2

If you dont have a will and you both die intestate, it goes to probate where the judiciary decide who is next of kin and they inherit. If there are no known kin, the solicitors dealing with it will advertise in newspapers and in the last known area of any possible heirs, but if they cannot be traced or there simply are no kin then the money goes to the treasury.
Where there ae children although they will end up with the estate if there is no will, they will receive their inheritance much more quickly if there is a will.

Answer 3

Nothing happens, unless the person dies. MANY people don't start thinking of such things until they reach their senior years...lack of planning ahead often leaves their loved ones in a pickle if the person dies unexpectedly and didn't get around to making arrangements for minor children, their belongings/estate, etc.

Answer 4

If you don't have a will, the courts decide who gets what. That means if you want your money to go to your poor cousins but don't write it down, the courts could give it to your rich uncle. It's their decision as to what they want to do though.

Answer 5

I believe you have to have a witness with you when you write the will, but if you don't have a will at all....then the government decides who gets what.