Why it's important to make a will
Making a will sets out in a legal binding document about who is to benefit from your property and possessions after your death.
If you don't make a will then the law says who gets what. If you are an unmarried couple, whether or not it's a same sex relationship, you can make sure your partner is provided for.
Husbands and wives don't automatically inherit everything from each other.
You can make sure Inheritance Tax is no more than necessary.
What if I don't make a will?
If someone dies without a will, they are said to have died 'intestate'.
If this happens, then the law sets out who will can deal with the deceased's affairs and who should inherit their property and possessions - their estate.
When someone dies without leaving a will, dealing with their estate can be complicated and can take a long time to sort out. This can be in months, even years in some very complex cases.
The law says who will inherit.
