Is the surviving spouse always entitled to a share of the estate?

In the state of Washington, the surviving spouse is typically entitled to a share of the estate if the deceased individual died without a valid will (also known as intestate). Washington law provides that the surviving spouse will usually receive the entire estate if the deceased spouse had no living children, parents, or siblings. If the deceased had any of these living relatives, the surviving spouse would be entitled to at least one-half of the estate. This means that the surviving spouse would receive half of the estate, and the remaining half would be divided among the deceased’s living relatives. This law applies only if the deceased individual died without a valid will. If the deceased did have a valid will, then the provisions in the will determine how the estate is distributed. In some cases, the will may have stipulated that the surviving spouse is to receive a portion of the estate. The Washington intestate succession law is designed to ensure that the surviving spouse is taken care of if the deceased individual passed away without a valid will. However, it is important to note that the surviving spouse’s entitlement to the estate is not absolute. If the deceased had any living relatives, then the surviving spouse would be entitled to a share of the estate, although not necessarily a majority. It is also important to note that the provisions in the will take precedence over the intestate succession law should the deceased have had a valid will.

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Is the surviving spouse always entitled to a share of the estate?

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