No will, more money

SPOUSES and civil partners are set to receive more money when their loved ones die without leaving a will, the Government said today.

The statutory legacy, the amount that can be paid to a spouse or civil partner from the assets of a person who dies without making a valid will, was last changed in 1993.

The Government has acted after fears that the levels of the statutory legacy were too low.

It is now pounds 125,000 where the deceased leaves a surviving spouse or civil partner and children.

It is pounds 200,000 where the deceased leaves a surviving spouse or civil partner and parents or siblings, but no children.

From February next year the new levels of the statutory legacy will increase to pounds 250,000 and pounds 450,000.

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice said: "This increase will give extra protection to married couples and civil partners."

COPYRIGHT 2008 MGN Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning