Calculate Intestacy Distribution

Enter the details below to see how your estate would be distributed under the intestacy rules (England & Wales, 2026).

How Intestacy Rules Work in England & Wales

When someone dies without a valid will, they are said to have died intestate. The Administration of Estates Act 1925 and the Inheritance and Trustees' Powers Act 2014 set out the rules for distributing the estate.

The statutory legacy — the guaranteed amount for a surviving spouse — is currently £322,000. Above this threshold, any additional estate is split: half to the spouse, half shared equally among all children.

Intestacy Order of Priority

  1. Spouse or civil partner (and children if applicable)
  2. Children (if no spouse)
  3. Parents (if no spouse or children)
  4. Full siblings (if no parents)
  5. Half-siblings
  6. Grandparents
  7. Aunts and uncles (full blood)
  8. Aunts and uncles (half blood)
  9. Crown (bona vacantia)

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you die without a will in the UK?

If you die without a valid will in England and Wales, you are said to have died intestate. The intestacy rules under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 determine who inherits your estate. Your assets will be distributed to relatives in a strict legal order, starting with your spouse or civil partner, then children, parents, siblings, and more distant relatives. If no qualifying relatives are found, your estate passes to the Crown (bona vacantia).

Who inherits under the intestacy rules in England?

Under the intestacy rules in England and Wales: if you have a spouse/civil partner and children, your spouse receives the first £322,000, all personal property, and half of the remaining estate; children share the other half equally. If there is no spouse, children inherit everything equally. With no spouse or children, parents inherit. If no parents survive, siblings inherit equally. More distant relatives follow if none of the above exist.

Does a common law partner inherit in the UK?

No. Common law partners (unmarried partners who live together) have no automatic right to inherit under the intestacy rules in England and Wales, regardless of how long they have lived together. To protect an unmarried partner, you must make a valid will. Your partner may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, but this is costly and uncertain.

What is the intestacy threshold for spouses in 2026?

The statutory legacy — the amount a surviving spouse or civil partner receives automatically under the intestacy rules — is £322,000 as of 2026. This figure is reviewed periodically. If the estate is worth £322,000 or less, the surviving spouse receives everything. Above this, the spouse also receives half of the remainder, with children sharing the other half equally.

How can I avoid the intestacy rules?

The only way to avoid the intestacy rules is to make a valid will. A will must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two independent adults who are present at the same time. You should also consider setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney for property/financial affairs and health/welfare. Review your will regularly, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of children.