What happens if someone dies without a will and has no surviving relatives?

If a person in Arkansas dies without a will and has no surviving relatives, the estate passes through a process called “intestate succession law”. This is the state’s way of distributing assets to the rightful heirs of the deceased. In some cases, assets may be passed to the state. Generally, if the decedent left no surviving spouse or children, intestate succession rules direct the assets to the decedent’s parents. If the decedent’s parents are also deceased, the assets will be passed to the decedent’s siblings, or their heirs. If there are no living siblings, the assets may be passed to the decedent’s grandparents or their heirs. If there are no surviving relatives, the state of Arkansas will take possession of the estate. The state will then attempt to find any distant relatives, such as nieces and nephews, or their heirs, who may be entitled to receive a portion of the estate. If no distant relatives can be found, the assets will be held with the court. In some cases, if the deceased was a veteran, a portion of the assets may have to be used to pay for a veteran’s funeral or burial expenses. The remaining estate, or any part of it, will be sent to the state’s treasury. Any funds remaining in the state’s treasury after seven years will revert to the state.

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What happens if someone dies without a will and has no surviving relatives?

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