If your estate is worth more than £5,000 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) then your next of kin must apply to the courts for the power to deal with your estate - they must apply for 'letters of administration'. If you had a Will then your executors would apply to the Probate Registry office for a 'grant of probate'.
When there is no Will the 'rules of intestacy' (i.e. the government) states who should get what amount depending on the total net value of your estate. Therefore the opinion of the government may not be the same as yours and your estate may not go to those you want to benefit from your estate.
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