Where making a will was nothing but trouble.

Telegraph – 01/09/2007

Hotel billionaire Leona Helmsley left more in her will to her dog, a white Maltese called Trouble, above, than to nearly all of her family put together, lawyers disclosed this week. While the dog got $12m (£6m), two of her grandchildren got nothing.

Mrs Helmsley, who died last month at the age of 87, was infamous for saying "Only the little people pay taxes''. She was convicted of evasion and served 18 months in a federal prison. Nicknamed the "Queen of Mean'' and worse by some of her critics, Mrs Helmsley left substantial bequests to charity. Many people who could afford to make charitable bequests leave nothing to good causes and half of all those who die in Britain each year fail to make any will at all.

What happens if you die intestate in England and Wales?

Husbands, wives and civil partners get £125,000 of your assets plus personal possessions.

- If there are children the spouse or civil partner gets £125,000 of your assets, personal possessions and the right to income from half of the rest. The children receive the other half.

- If there are no children but there are parents who are still alive, the spouse or civil partner gets the first £200,000 of the estate plus half the balance, and the rest goes to the parents.

- If there are no parents alive but there are brothers or sisters, they get what remains after the spouse or civil partner has taken the personal effects, the first £200,000 and the half of the remainder.

- If there are no parents or brothers or sisters the spouse or civil partner receives everything.

- If you are not married or in a civil partnership and there are no children the estate goes to your parents or, if they are not alive, to brothers and sisters.

- If you are not married but have children the estate is shared between them.


© 2007 Associated Newspapers. All rights reserved
Date: 01/09/2007
Publication: Daily Telegraph