INTESTACY

Early day motion 46, tabled 6 December 2000 by Helen Southworth (Labour). Signed by 79 members.

That this House believes that the rules relating to intestacy are in urgent need of updating; notes that under the rules a spouse will only receive the first ú125,000 absolutely of the deceased's estate where there are children of the marriage; further notes that this figure has not changed for several years, despite a large increase in the value of domestic property; is concerned that many widows and widowers may lose their homes because their value is greater than the ú125,000 threshold; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to consider raising this threshold to ú200,000, as recommended by the Law Society.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.