If you die without a Will the intestate succession laws of each State controls who receives your property. Intestate Succession laws vary from State to State. They include your spouse, children, siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and others depending on who survives you.
If you pass without a spouse and have children, your children will generally be considered your heirs and receive all of your property. If you have a spouse, your property will probably pass to your spouse and children, if you have any, but not in equal amounts in some States.
Some property and assets do not pass through your estate regardless of whether you die without a will or with a Will. Examples include life insurance proceeds unless you named your estate as beneficiary, jointly held property with rights of survivorship, pay on death accounts, retirement account where you named a beneficiary and any other property such as stock where you may have named a beneficiary.
Most people who will be viewing this free content will be in a situation where a relative die without a Will and they want to know who receives the property of the decedent.
Please don’t be a person who dies without a Will. They are inexpensive to create and if you don’t it will cost much more the administer your estate. You will also have the person appointed that you choose to probate your estate or be guardian or trustee of your children.
The intestate succession laws for all States will be provided to you here. If you have any questions about intestate succession please use the question form located to your right.
