Without a Will

If you do nothing, who gets what?

Without a Will, Hong Kong's intestacy ordinance divides your estate in a strict order of priority. Build your family picture and see where yours would go.

Your family

Tick everyone who would survive you. No names, nothing saved.

How many

Under 18

Your estate, roughly

HK$

Property, savings, MPF, insurance. A rough figure is fine. Leave it at zero to see the shape of the split without dollar figures.

The law applies a strict order of priority, so some choices may stop others from inheriting: 1 Spouse, 2 Children, 3 Parents, 4 Siblings, 5 Grandparents, uncles or aunts.

The law decides

Here is the split.

HKD estate

Your spouse

Chattels, the first HK$500,000, then half the rest

HK$4,250,000

53%

Adult children

Equal shares of half the residue, about HK$1,875,000 each

HK$3,750,000

47%

Your spouse must share with your children. The law gives your spouse the chattels and the first HK$500,000, then splits the rest in half, no matter what you would have wanted.

A Will makes it 100% your choice.

Start my Will

Illustrative only, based on the Intestates' Estates Ordinance (Cap. 73) and intestacy law then applying in Hong Kong. The surviving spouse also receives the personal chattels. Shares for children under 18 are held on trust until they turn 18. Jointly held assets and insurance with named beneficiaries may pass outside the estate. This is not legal advice.