While I’m the will writer here at Westcotes Wills, we’re part of a larger community of will writers. If someone dies but their family can’t find their will, the National Will Register will often contact will writers in their area to investigate. It looks as if Terry Venables, the England football player and manager who died last year, may not have created a will. We look at what that could mean for his family.

What’s the National Will Register?

Did you know there’s a National Will Register? It keeps details of wills written and many professionals will log your will on there as part of their service offering. When you create a will with us and pay for professional storage. It will automatically be added to the register. Other will writers do this too, so ask if you’re unsure. If someone dies and their family isn’t sure whether they created a will or where they stored it, the National Will Register is a good starting point.

How will Terry Venables’ estate be divided up?

Without a will, Terry Venables’ estate will be divided according to intestacy rules. Terry was married twice, has two daughters from his first marriage, and was still married at the time of his death. That makes things relatively simple. Anything he owned jointly with his wife passes to her under the rights of survivorship. She’ll also inherit anything in his sole name up to the value of £322,000. Anything over that will be divided into two and split between his wife and children. This can get complicated if your partner has moved into your house and it’s worth over £322,000. Technically, Terry’s children could make his wife sell the house to give them their inheritance.

If you have a blended family, your partner’s children don’t inherit anything under the intestacy rules, so if you want to leave them anything, you’ll need to create a will.

Business interests

We don’t know the details of Terry Venables’ estate, but it’s fair to say that he had complicated business interests. He was barred from serving as a company director for seven years in 1998 and pursued various business and investment opportunities alongside his football career. It’s hard to say what his estate is worth and what that means for his wife and children. There may also be some inheritance tax implications if he hasn’t made a will or done some estate planning.

What’s your plan?

If you don’t have children, you might be happy for your estate to go to your spouse or civil partner under the intestacy rules. However, the process is longer and more complicated than it would be with a will. It’s also worth considering plan B. Some people say they’ll make a will setting out plan B if their partner dies before them. It’s the last thing on your mind when you’ve lost someone, and writing your will at that stage adds more stress at an already extremely difficult time.

When you create your will, your will writer will also ask what you want to happen if you both die together, for example, in an accident. The younger adult will be classed as having died last if there isn’t any other evidence, which could mean their family inherits everything.

To protect your family, don’t put off writing your will. Do it when you’re fit and well.

Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash

If you want to write your will to protect your family, we can help. Get in touch using the form below or call us on 0116 380 0752.