What happens if someone dies without a will?

If someone dies without a will in Maryland, then they are considered to have died “intestate”, and their estate is subject to the rules of intestate succession. This means that the assets of the deceased will be divided according to the state’s intestate succession laws. In Maryland, if the deceased had a surviving spouse but no surviving children or grandchildren, then the surviving spouse will receive all of the deceased’s estate. If the deceased had a surviving spouse and children or grandchildren (both by the deceased and the surviving spouse), then the surviving spouse will receive one-half of the estate and the other half will be divided among the other heirs in the following order: children or grandchildren, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and other family members. If the deceased had no surviving spouse or children, then the property is distributed in the following order: parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and other family members. It is important to note that when someone dies without a will in Maryland, the estate is divided according to the state’s intestate succession laws only after any debts owed by the deceased have been settled. These debts can include taxes, mortgages, medical bills, credit cards, and other obligations. The remaining assets of the estate will then be distributed according to the rules of intestate succession. If the estate is not large enough to cover all debts, then the remaining debts must go unpaid.

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What happens if someone dies without a will?

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