If your aunt or uncle has recently passed, you may be wondering whether you’re entitled to inherit anything from their estate based on the UK inheritance laws.
Below, the experienced inheritance solicitors at Freeman Jones Solicitors explain the various circumstances under which nieces and nephews can inherit in the UK.
What are the inheritance rights of nieces and nephews in the UK?
In the UK, we have something called testamentary freedom which simply means that an individual can leave their estate (money, possessions, property) to whomever they choose. As a result, no one, including nieces and nephews, is automatically entitled to inheritance in the UK.
However, a niece or nephew of the deceased can be left everything (or a share of the estate) if these wishes are clearly stated in the deceased’s will. Similarly, nieces and nephews may also be entitled to inherit under the rules of intestacy – a set of rules applied when someone passes without a valid will.
According to the rules of intestacy, nieces and nephews can inherit in equal shares if there are no surviving parents and no surviving brothers or sisters of the deceased. This mean instead of the deceased’s brothers and sisters inheriting their share of the deceased’s estate, their children will inherit.
However, if the niece or nephew was ‘financially dependent’ upon the deceased, but the deceased didn’t make suitable provision for them in their will, then the niece or nephew could make an Inheritance Act claim to receive a share of the deceased’s estate.
If you’re unsure whether you’re entitled to inheritance from your deceased aunt or uncle’s estate or believe you’re entitled to a share that you’ve not received, it’s worth discussing your concerns with an experienced inheritance solicitor, like Freeman Jones Solicitors.
We can work with the executors, creditors, and beneficiaries of a will to ensure the deceased’s wishes have been properly executed.
Learn more about your inheritance rights
Regardless of whether you want to find out more about the inheritance rights of nieces and nephews in the UK or have another query related to inheritance disputes, then please don’t hesitate to contact the professional team of solicitors at Freeman Jones Solicitors.
Our expert legal team has years of experience helping individuals across the North West of the UK to resolve inheritance disputes. Well-versed in mediation, negotiation, and court action, we can pursue the relevant avenues to support quick and amicable resolutions.
Alongside seeking amicable resolutions to inheritance disagreements, our team adopts a particularly sensitive approach when handling inheritance disputes between families to help limit confrontation and prevent damage to important relationships.
If you’d like to book your free, 20-minute, no-obligation consultation today, simply call 01244 506 444.
Alternatively, you can also discuss your solicitor requirements with a member of our knowledgeable team by emailing your enquiry to info@fjsolicitors.co.uk or filling out our online contact form.
Prefer to speak to us face-to-face? With Freeman Jones Solicitors offices across the UK (including areas like Chester, Liverpool, Warrington, and Wrexham), our friendly team welcomes in-person visits to all our branches.
