What happens to an estate if there is no will?

If someone dies without having a will in the state of Washington, their estate is handled according to the laws of intestate succession. This means that the estate is distributed to the deceased person’s surviving relatives or next of kin in accordance with Washington’s laws. Generally, the closest relatives receive the first priority for receiving assets from the estate. This includes the deceased’s spouse, children, parents, siblings, and grandparent. If the deceased had no surviving relatives or was not married, then the state will take possession of their estate. In the event that the deceased had no will, Washington state has specific rules that outline how the estate is divided. For example, if the deceased was married at the time of their passing, then their surviving spouse typically receives the entire estate. If the deceased had children, then the surviving spouse will receive a portion of the estate and the remaining balance will be divided among the children. If there are no surviving relatives, then the estate will revert to the state. It is important to note that if the deceased had any debts, such as mortgages or credit card debts, these must be paid off before any of the remaining estate can be distributed. After all debts are settled, the remaining balance of the estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession.

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