What Happens if I Die Without a Will?

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Bob

Well-Known Member
16 April 2014
19
0
71
Just wondering, what happens to my stuff if I die without a will? Or if I have a really old one that doesn't really apply anymore?
 
S

Sophea

Guest
Hi bob,

Cth Legislation has put in place 'Intestacy Rules' which are rules which determine how your Estate will be distributed if you die without a valid Will. The intestacy rules govern the distribution of your Estate to your next of kin such as your spouse, de facto and issue (children, grandchildren).

If there is no spouse or issue, then provision is made for your parents, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, then grandparents, then
uncles, aunts and cousins. There is no provision for distribution of your Estate to relatives more remote than your first cousins. Your in-laws are not classified as next of kin and are not included in the rules for the distribution of your Estate. A step-parent is not next of kin and neither is a mother-in-law or a father-in-law.

To provide a basic overview of how the rules may affect you...

(1) If you have a spouse and no children your whole estate will go to your spouse.
(2) If you have a spouse and children, the first $150,000, plus the family home and contents go to your spouse and anything above and beyond that go to your children.
(3) If you have children but no spouse, your estate will be divided equally between the children. If any of your children are deceased, their children can inherit their share.
(4) If you have no spouse and no children your estate will be distributed in the following order:
  • your parents in equal shares
  • your surviving brothers and sisters in equal shares (includes half brothers and sisters) (or if deceased, their children)
  • grandparents in equal shares
  • Aunts and uncles (or if deceased their children) in equal shares
As you can see, its better that you just get a simple will together to make sure that your things go where you want them to.

Hope that helps
 

winston wolf

Well-Known Member
21 April 2014
424
115
894
Adelaide
changefpa.com.au
The distribution depend on the state that you reside in. It varies a little stat to state. Somebody, normally someone close to you can apply for letters of administration. They would take care of the details like selling assets etc

If you have a will it is valid until something make it invalid (marriage etc). Just being out of date doesn't make a will invalid it just means a lot of money will be spent sorting it out.