Regardless of whether you choose to give to BCT, leaving a Will is important. Making a Will is a simple way of ensuring that your wishes are carried out and that your money and belongings pass to the people and causes you care about.
Should you die without a Will, then a set of rules known as the "Rules of Intestacy" apply and these dictate how your assets are divided up. Many people wrongly believe that all their assets will automatically pass to their spouse, however this may not be the case, depending on the size of your estate and whether you have any children. The idea of a "common law partner" is also a misconception as unmarried partners are not entitled to a share of the estate and would have to make an application to court if they wished to benefit from the estate. For people without a husband or wife or close family, their estate can be split between distant family members, and in the event of there being no surviving family, the estate will pass to the Crown.
If you do have a Will, it is important for it to be updated in case your circumstances have changed. For example if you marry, then your Will is automatically revoked or if you get divorced, then any references to your ex-spouse are removed.
Remember to seek legal advice when writing or updating a Will as it is a legal document.
