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Rules of Intestacy: single people

If you’re domiciled in England or Wales when you die, the flow-chart below shows where your assets will end up.

Notes

1. Members of younger generations are also entitled to inherit their parent's share if the parent has already died.
2. This flow-chart applies only to people domiciled in England or Wales at time of death. It is intended as a brief guide, not a definitive summary of intestacy law. For example, it does not cover half-blood relationships, although intestacy rules do cover them. It is based on our understanding of the law at May 2006, but neither Barclays Bank Trust Company Limited, nor its representatives, accept responsibility for any reliance which may be placed upon it.
3. The term 'children' includes illegitimate and adopted children but not step-children (unless legally adopted).
4. "Personal chattels" is defined in law and generally speaking means personal items such as cars, jewellery and other household goods. It does not include, for example, houses, land, bank accounts, investments or businesses.
5. Joint property generally passes to the surviving joint holder, independently of the intestacy rules, but this is not always the case.

Are you married or in a civil partnership?
No     Do you have children? See note 1 above. Yes Your estate is shared equally between your children or grandchildren (if your children have already died). See note 1 above.  No     Are your parents still alive? Yes Your estate is shared equally between your parents No   Do you have any brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces living? See note 1 above. Yes Your estate is shared equally between your brothers and sisters. If siblings have already died then nephews and nieces take their place in the distribution. See note 1 above. No   Are any of your grandparents still alive? Yes Your estate is shared equally between your grandparents. No   Do you have any aunts, uncles or cousins See note 1 above. Yes Your estate is shared equally between your aunts and uncles. If they have already died, cousins take their place in the distribution. See note 1 above. No   CROWN TAKES ALL

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