If you die without making a will (intestate):

1. Members of younger generations are also entitled to inherit the share that their parent would otherwise have taken, if their parent has already died.
2. “Children” includes illegitimate and adopted children but not step-children unless legally adopted.
3. “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, buildings, bank accounts, investments or businesses.  
4. Joint property generally passes to the surviving joint holder independent of the intestacy rules, but this is not always the case.
5. This flow chart applies only to people domiciled in England or Wales at the time of death. It is intended as a brief guide and is not a definitive summary of intestacy law. It is based on our understanding of the law at October 2004 but Nabarro Poole does not accept responsibility for any reliance placed upon it.