The rules of intestacy specify a rigid order of who can benefit from the estate of an intestate person.  The order is: 1. Spouse or civil partner 2. Children/grandchildren 3. Parents 4. Siblings 5. Grandparents Uncles and aunts The highest up the list will take priority however they do not necessarily receive the entire estate. For example, if the intestate person dies leaving a surviving spouse and children, the surviving spouse will receive the first £250,000, as well as all their possessions. Of the remaining value over and above £250,000, the spouse will be entitled to in half, and the rest will be split between the intestate person’s children (blood or adopted but not step) (or their grandchildren if the children have already died). Sorting out the estate of an intestate person is usually more complicated than an estate where there is a Will and therefore more expensive than that of someone who has made a Will. This is because it is not always clear what assets the intestate person held, or because there may be complicated family relationships which make distributing the estate under the intestacy rules difficult.