Does an intestate estate ever go to the government?

Yes, an intestate estate will go to the government in California if the deceased person did not leave a valid will and had no surviving heirs or relatives. Under California intestate succession law, a deceased person’s estate will pass to their closest relatives in the following order: surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and then cousins. If the deceased has no surviving family members, then the estate will go to the state. In California, the intestate estate of the deceased will be passed on to the California Unclaimed Property Division. Any remaining assets are protected by the state until the rightful heirs can be located. The government will take possession of any assets the deceased owned that are not transferred to relatives or heirs, such as money, real estate, or investments. It is important for heirs to act quickly to ensure that their inheritance is not taken by the government. In summary, if an individual dies without leaving a will and has no surviving relatives, their estate will pass to the California Unclaimed Property Division. The state will then be responsible for holding the deceased’s assets until the rightful beneficiaries can be located.

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