No Will

When someone dies without a will, this is legally referred to as dying intestate. In such cases, the deceased person’s property and assets are distributed according to the intestacy laws of the state or jurisdiction where they lived. These laws specify a hierarchy of relatives—such as a surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, and more distant relatives—who are entitled to inherit from the estate.

Key points about dying without a will:

• Intestate succession: The process by which property is distributed when there is no valid will.
• Probate court: Oversees the distribution of the estate according to state law.
• Who inherits: Typically, only legal relatives (spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.) inherit under intestacy laws. Unmarried partners, stepchildren (unless legally adopted), and friends usually do not inherit unless specified in a will.
• Non-probate assets: Certain assets (like life insurance, jointly owned property, or retirement accounts with named beneficiaries) pass directly to the named individuals and are not affected by intestacy laws.

Summary Table

Term	Meaning
No will	Dying without a valid will (intestate)
Intestate	Legal term for dying without a will
Intestacy	State laws that determine estate distribution without a will
Probate	Court process to settle the estate
Non-probate	Assets that bypass probate and go directly to named beneficiaries

If you have specific questions about how intestacy laws apply in a particular state or country, please specify the jurisdiction.