Who is entitled?

[Arglye_blue]

Parents are divorced, father dies his family then want to divide assets between them as we haven't been in close contact. As his child what rights do i have with regards to this?

[bednobs]

did he leave a will? If you've not been in close contact, why would you want a share of his money now he's dead (i am making an assumption here f course) isn't that a little mercenary? If he had have made a will and has another family, then he probbably wouldnt have left anything to you any way if you are not close. Legally i dont think you can claim if he died intestate, because you were not financially dependent on him

[Fulton]

I thought that the estate is divided with widow getting a set ammount, and the remainder being shared equally between surviving children, whethet they lived with him or not. It is a very complex issue, and I would recommend taking legal advice, or going to the CAB.

[Arglye_blue]

This is actually an 'on behalf of question' but what was wondered is does one relative supersede another in a case like this. i.e would the mans father or sister come before his child?
There is no widow, single man.

[dzug]

If he made a will you have no rights unless he chose to leave you something.

If he didn't leave a will then you as his child are definitely entitled to a share or even all of his estate. You share it with any other children, assuming there is no widow. If any child has died, their share goes to their children. Noone else gets a look in. Parents, sisters, etc, only come into the oicture in the absence of any children.

His family are either trying it on or are genuinely ignorant of the law.

CAB I think