Dying Without a Will – What Happens?

If a person dies without a Will, each state in the United States has intestate succession laws that decide which assets go to which relative. Since most people do not wish the state to have control of what happens after they die, it is prudnet to have a Will prepared. This applies for even younger people who have assets because you never know why you are going to die. 

Succession Laws – What Happens to my Estate

Here are the formula for allocating you assets if you to not have a will through probate;

1. If you have children but no siblings, spouse or parents; the children inherit everything.
2. If you have a spouse but no siblings, children or parents; the spouse inherits everything.
3. If you have parents but no children, spouse, or siblings; the parents inherit everything.
4. If you have siblings, but no children or parents; the siblings inherit everything.
5. If you have a spouse and children, your spouse inherits all of your community property and 1/2 or 1/3 of your separate property, and your children inherit 1/2 or 2/3 of your separate property.
6. If you have a spouse and parents, your spouse inherits all of your community property and 1/2 of your separate property, and your parents inherit 1/2 of your separate property.
7. If you have a spouse and siblings, but no parents, your spouse inherits all of your community property and 1/2 of your separate property, and your siblings inherit 1/2 of your separate property.

Probate Laws – Dying Without a Will

With no Will your estate will have to go through Probate. There will be many issues that will need to be addressed and  the California Probate Code will address many of these. To make these decisions legal, probate court is necessary. During the probate process, the court verifies holdings and assets. Many people try to avoid probate because property and belongings are tied up and it can be expensive due to legal fees, assessments, executor fees, and other expenses. 

For some ways to save on funeral expenses see our article.

In the assets listed above, there are several used to avoid probate. One of the most used legal solutions is the living trust. The living trust is made when the person is still alive. Changes can be made before death which makes it a revocable trust. This type of trust contains instructions explaining what you want done with your assets and belongings.

So, if you don’t have a will; it is very well spelled out in state law as to what will happen. A will spells out what you want to go to what person or institution, so you can decide differently than what the probate law says. The living trust names executors to handle your estate and assets. A good estate lawyer can go over all of the pluses and minuses that will work best for your situation.

When making legal decisions you should always consult a lawyer to ensure that your wishes are ensured.