What happens if someone dies without a will?
If someone dies without a will in the state of Arkansas, the state’s intestacy laws will apply, determining how the deceased person’s property and assets are distributed. Intestacy law dictates that the deceased’s assets and property will be distributed to their nearest relatives in a prescribed order. Generally, the first in line to receive property and assets are the deceased’s spouse and children. If there is no surviving spouse or children, the deceased’s parents will inherit the assets. If none of the deceased’s relatives remain, the property will be sent to the deceased’s closest living relatives, such as aunts, uncles, cousins, or siblings. If the deceased person does not have any living relatives, his or her property and assets will go to the state. In Arkansas, intestacy laws help ensure that the deceased’s property and assets are not left in limbo or handled improperly. This makes it important to understand the laws of intestacy, especially if a loved one has died without a will. It is important to note that any asset or property owned by the deceased that legally required a will, such as life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other accounts with designated beneficiaries, will not pass according to the state’s laws of intestacy and cannot be inherited by the deceased’s closest relatives. These assets will go to the beneficiaries indicated in the will or other legal documents.
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