Without a valid will, unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit, and your spouse may not inherit everything. Similarly, children from a previous marriage may miss out.Getting your affairs in order might be the kindest thing you can do to your loved ones (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)A shockingly high proportion of Brits died without a will in 2025. Last year, 70% of all people who died in the UK didn't have a will, according to Experts in Money. All of those people lost control of where their assets ended up, potentially causing extra stress for their grieving family members. Without a valid will, unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit, and your spouse may not inherit everything. Similarly, children from a previous marriage may miss out. A person who dies without a will is known as ‘dying intestate’. In this case, sorting out their estate is a bit more complicated, as the law decides who inherits according to certain criteria called ‘intestacy rules’. There is a lot at stake if this does happen. Disputes can arise between family members over who should administer the estate and who should receive what, which can be particularly challenging and emotional after the death of a loved one. For those who die intestate, what happens differs for England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.