ChatterBank0 min ago
wills
if i make a will while im married does my husband still get automatic rights to my estate etc
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Ethel's wonderfully concise answer basically answers your question but there's an important caveat if you jointly own a house.
If the deeds to the house (or, more importantly, the Land Registry entry) states that you and your husband have a 'tenancy in common', each of you will own a specific share in the house (which is likely to be 50% but doesn't have to be). This share can be left to whomever you choose, in your will.
However, most couples who co-own a house normally have a 'joint tenancy'. When two people hold a joint tenancy (irrespective of whether they're married or not), neither person owns a distinct share in the property, so it's not possible to leave such a share to anyone in a will. When one person dies, the other person automatically becomes the owner of the entire property.
Chris
If the deeds to the house (or, more importantly, the Land Registry entry) states that you and your husband have a 'tenancy in common', each of you will own a specific share in the house (which is likely to be 50% but doesn't have to be). This share can be left to whomever you choose, in your will.
However, most couples who co-own a house normally have a 'joint tenancy'. When two people hold a joint tenancy (irrespective of whether they're married or not), neither person owns a distinct share in the property, so it's not possible to leave such a share to anyone in a will. When one person dies, the other person automatically becomes the owner of the entire property.
Chris
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