What happens to my assets if I die without a will?

If you die in Idaho without a will, then your assets are distributed according to what is known as "intestate succession". Intestate succession is a process where a court determines your closest living relative or relatives, and decides how they will receive your assets. Generally speaking, a surviving spouse is the first to receive your assets, followed by the children of the deceased if there is no surviving spouse. If there are no surviving relatives or if the relatives can’t be identified, then Idaho State will receive the estate in its entirety. When this happens, the state will use the assets to pay for any debts or taxes that may be owed before distributing the remainder of the estate among the heirs as per Idaho laws. However, it is important to note that when you die without a will, the courts have the right to distribute your estate in any way they see fit, even if that doesn’t match how you would have wanted your assets to be distributed. In particular, a surviving spouse might receive less than they would have if you had an estate plan in place. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you create an estate plan now to ensure that your assets are managed and distributed the way you would like them to be.

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