Lawyer explains what really happens to your money if you don't have a will when you die

The answer may not be as clear-cut as you might thinkHoward Lloyd Regional content editor06:07, 02 Aug 2026Figures show that more than half of UK adults do not have a will, including 53 per cent of adults aged 50-64. So what actually happens to your money is you pass away and have not identified who you want it to go to?‌If you die without a will, the distribution of your personal possessions, money, and property - known as your estate - will be dealt with under the rules of intestacy. This is a set of legal rules that dictate who will benefit.‌The intestacy rules are rigid and may not reflect your wishes. For example, they make no provision for unmarried partners. The intestacy rules also govern who is entitled to deal with the administration of your estate. In Scotland, unmarried partner