Distribution of Intestate Estates
Who is entitled?
Spouse of the deceased
The first beneficiary entitled is the spouse of the deceased.
If no spouse, the estate is distributed in the following strict order of entitlement, but no later class benefits if a member of an earlier class exists:
Order of entitlement, if there is no spouse of the deceased.
- Children of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased or their issue if they are deceased
- Half blood siblings or their issue if they are deceased
- Grandparents
- Uncles and Aunts or their issue if they are deceased
- Half blood aunts and uncles of the deceased or their issue if they are deceased
- None of the above? The estate falls to the Crown, Duchy of Lancaster or Duchy of Cornwall
