From 1st February 2009 if a person dies 'intestate' (i.e. without a valid Will)

• If the deceased leaves a spouse and children, the spouse will receive a statutory legacy of £250,000 (up from £125,000) plus personal chattels and a life interest in one-half of the remainder of the Estate.
• If the deceased leaves a spouse, but no children, the spouse receives a statutory legacy of £450,000 (up from £200,000).

This sounds like a substantial increase but taking into account inflation and in particular, house price inflation, critics point out this is insufficient.