ORDER OF ENTITLEMENT

The table below is a summary of the succession to real and personal estate on intestacy in accordance with the Administration of Estates Act 1925.


The deceased leaves behind a spouse and issue, however the estate does not exceed £125,000 Spouse is the sole-beneficiary of the estate
The deceased leaves behind a spouse and issue, however the estate exceeds £125,000 The spouse receives:
  • Statutory legacy of £125,000 free of inheritance tax
  • Personal chattels
  • Half of the net residue in a life interest trust to be passed to the deceased's issue upon the death of the spouse
The issue receive(s):
  • The half of the residue that was not awarded to the deceased's spouse
The deceased leaves behind a spouse but no issue, a surviving parent / brother or sister of the whole blood or their issue, the estate does not exceed £200,000 Spouse is the sole-beneficiary of the estate
The deceased leaves behind a spouse but no issue, a surviving parent / brother or sister of the whole blood or their issue, the estate exceeds £200,000 Spouse receives:
  • Statutory legacy of £200,000 free of inheritance tax
  • Personal chattels
  • Half of the net residue
Other half of the net residue will be passed to the surviving parent(s) or if both are deceased the brothers and sisters will share equally. A sibling's entitlement will pass to their issue if the sibling is deceased.
The deceased leaves behind a spouse, no issue, no surviving parent / brother or sister of the whole blood or their issue, the estate exceeds £200,000 Spouse is the sole-beneficiary of the estate
The deceased leaves behind no spouse but left issue The estate is passed to the children equally. If they are under 18, their inheritance is held in trust. A child's entitlement will pass to issue if the child is deceased.
The deceased leaves behind no spouse or issue Surviving parent(s) benefit equally. If none:

Brothers and sisters of the whole blood equally. (Entitlements will pass to the issue if the sibling is deceased). If none:

Brothers and sisters of the half blood equally. (Entitlements will pass to the issue if the sibling is deceased). If none:

Surviving grandparents equally. If none:

Aunts and uncles of the whole blood equally. (Entitlements will pass to the issue if the aunt or uncle is deceased). If none:

Aunts and uncles of the half blood equally. (Entitlements will pass to the issue if the aunt or uncle is deceased).
The deceased leaves behind no spouse, issue, parents, brothers and sisters of the whole blood, brothers and sisters of the half blood, grandparents, aunts or uncles, or issue of aunts or uncles The estate is distributed to the Crown, Duchy of Lancaster or the Duchy of Cornwall depending on where the deceased died.