Friday, December 17, 2010

If I die and I don't have a will, what happens?

Dying without a will is called "intestate", all your property, and/or assets, will be distributed to your heirs according to a formula fixed by law. Your property does not go to the State, or province, you live in unless there are no heirs at law, which is usually unlikely. In other words, if you haven't made a will, the inheritance statute decides who gets your property, and/or assets. The inheritance statute contains a rigid formula and makes no exception for those in unusual need.

When there is no will, the court appoints a personal representative, whom you may, or may not, have known, to manage your estate. If you had a will, the cost of probating your estate may be greater, and the administration of your estate may be subject to greater court supervision.

3 comments:

Phil said...

I found this very interesting, thanks for posting.

Anonymous said...

Hmm interesting. I was wondering about this the other day actually. I haven't taken out a will yet, but I do have a few personal heirs that would be able to take my property. I would hate to have all my belongings go to the Government.
Anywho, thank you for the information.

Anonymous said...

interesting read.