How is an intestate estate divided among the surviving heirs?

In the state of Oregon, an intestate estate is divided among the surviving heirs according to Oregon’s laws of intestate succession. This law states that the surviving spouse of the deceased will receive the entire estate if there are no surviving descendants, such as children or grandchildren. If the deceased does have surviving descendants, the spouse will receive the first $200,000 of the estate, plus 1/3 of anything leftover. The rest is then divided among the deceased’s surviving descendants. It is important to note that adopted children are treated the same as natural children, and children who were born out of wedlock are treated the same as children of the deceased who were born within the marriage. If the deceased has no surviving spouse or descendants, the estate is distributed among the deceased’s siblings or more distant relatives, such as aunts, uncles and cousins. If those relatives are deceased, their children will receive a share. If there are no relatives living that are related to the deceased, then the entire estate is given to the Oregon state government. It is important to remember that an intestate estate is divided according to Oregon intestate succession laws, and not according to the wishes of the deceased. That is why it is important to have a will or trust in place to ensure that your estate is divided as you intended, and not in accordance with Oregon state law.

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How is an intestate estate divided among the surviving heirs?

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