That is determined by the Inheritance and Trustees Powers Act 2014:

If there are surviving children, grandchildren or great grandchildren of the person who died and the estate is valued at more than £270,000, the partner (married or civil partners NOT unmarried) will inherit:

• all the personal property and belongings of the person who has died, and
• the first £270,000 of the estate, and half of the remaining estate

If there are no surviving children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, the partner will inherit:

• all the personal property and belongings of the person who has died and
• the whole of the estate with interest from the date of death

Who cannot inherit

The following people have no right to inherit where someone dies without leaving a will:

• unmarried partners (sometimes wrongly called ‘common-law’ partners)
• relations by marriage
• close friends
• Carers

Although any property jointly owned will pass by right of survivorship

If you have any questions or would like to review your legal affairs, to contact us at the Lymington Office on 01590 689500 or at New Milton on 01425 610078