After my parents died in the 1980’s I came to regard a distant relative as a surrogate parent. When he died his property passed to his wife, who said they intended leaving everything to me and my brother. However she died last year without making a will and their estate worth more than £100,000 went to the Crown. I have been given £20,000 but my brother has received nothing. What should he expect, and are we entitled to more?
Under intestacy rules the estate passes to the Crown where no blood relatives can be found. They will sometimes pay out where someone seems morally entitled to a share, which is presumably why you have received £20,000. If your brother can make out a similar case he may receive the same. But neither of you has a legal entitlement.