Should someone die without proper legal documents such as a legal will or trust in place, it is the responsibility of the state of residence of the deceased person to distribute property to heirs according to that state's intestacy (when there is no will) laws. The intestacy laws in your state statutes might call for distribution of assets according to "orders of succession," which basically prescribe who will get what percentage of the assets based on their familial relationship to the person who passed away. Please seek legal clarification from an attorney or the clerk of the court in the location where the individual lived.
For additional information on legal issues related to personal finance, go to Financial Security: Legal Topics.
We would like your feedback on this Personal Finance Frequently Asked Question.
