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

If someone dies without a will and has no surviving relatives in Rhode Island, they are deemed to have died intestate. In this case, how their estate is distributed depends on the intestate succession law in the state. In Rhode Island, the intestate inheritance laws dictate that when someone dies without a will and has no surviving relatives, then the estate will go to the state government, since there aren’t any heirs. The state’s treasury department will take possession of the estate and any money will be deposited into the state’s general fund. This includes all money, property, and other assets, such as stocks, bonds, and jewelry. However, if the deceased person had any unpaid debts, these must be paid off before the state can take possession of the estate. The state’s treasury department will contact any creditors and arrange to pay off any outstanding debts with the estate assets. Any remaining assets, after all debts have been taken care of, will then be transferred to the state’s general fund. In addition, the state may also require the executor of the estate to submit a list of the deceased person’s belongings and assets to the state. This list will help the state determine if there are any additional assets or resources that should be collected. Ultimately, when someone dies intestate and has no surviving relatives, the state of Rhode Island will take possession of their estate. All debts must be paid off first, and any remaining assets will then be transferred to the state’s general fund.

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

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