Heir Hunters.....Just Wondering?

[Familysearch]

Firstly, apologies if this comes up twice.  Something strange just happened with my computer!

Having watched a recent Heir Hunters programme, I realised that a stepson was not entitled to inherit the estate of his stepfather under the intestacy rules.

Just wondered what would happen in this scenario?

A man has two children by his first wife.

Each of these sons has a child, Joan and Andrew - making them cousins.

Grandfather (also Andrew) remarries after the death of his first wife, and they have a child, who in turn marries and has a son, John - making him a half cousin of the other two.

Do the full cousins have a stronger claim under intestacy, or are they considered equals.  For example, if Andrew died without making a will, would the other two, even though not being full cousins, have equal shares of any estate left by Andrew?

thanks

FS

[davidft]

Use this Q & A link and it tells you who inherits depending on the scenario you put in

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

[Rosinish]

Each of the children you mention are direct descendants of Andrew i.e. they should each be entitled to the same which would not incorporate the 'cousins' link but the link to Andrew if I'm reading the question correctly?

Annie

Crossed posts, typing my reply when David posted!

[frostyknight]

I saw the heir hunters episode where the stepson didn't inherit, instead the legacy going to distant blood relatives. It just shows the importance of making a will.

[Familysearch]

Thanks for your replies.  I can see that each would inherit from the Grandfather.

May I add another scenario, which as far as I can see is not covered on the government website.  If Joan dies, would her cousin, Andrew, and half-cousin, John inherit equally?

FS

[Jebber]

The Citizens Advice website explains in great detail.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/who-can-inherit-if-there-is-no-will-the-rules-of-intestacy/

[Rosinish]

It just shows the importance of making a will.

I knew someone who lived with a woman who had previously been married & had kids to the marriage.

This man had his own business, worked hard, earned a lot of £s, paid off her mortgage etc.

The woman wanted for nothing, the man cared for her in her latter yrs & her children rarely gave him any help (respite)/time to himself to chill as he looked after her 24/7.

Her will (not sure when it was written) but she'd never changed it & the man she lived with who paid everything was left homeless when she passed as it went to her children!

He had no proof of paying off her mortgage etc. & was left basically with what he stood in!

Very, very sad indeed!

Annie

[FraserandFraser]

 Familysearch
no only the full blood cousin would inherit not the 1/2 blood

but don't for get Joan's mothers (or fathers) family

[Familysearch]

Thank you all for your replies.

The more I watch the Heir Hunters the more fascinating family history becomes! (Although I don't particularly like Michael Buerk's presentation of the programme) I watched one on iPlayer from this week's showing, where a will was found after a lot of hard work.  I notice that they always say that the choices of the deceased are always respected. Well, that is not always the case.  I know of a perfectly fair will that was challenged by the widow of the deceased, and she basically got the lot, leaving adult children with a very little share.

FamilySearch

ps.  I don't expect anyone to come knocking on my door with an unexpected inheritance.  As far as I know, everyone is accounted for - including the situation mentioned in my posting!