What is the difference between a will and an intestate estate?

The difference between a will and an intestate estate lies in the way that they distribute a person’s possessions and assets upon their death. A will is a document that is written by a person before they die, stating how their possessions and assets should be distributed. An intestate estate, on the other hand, is the law’s option for distributing a person’s possessions and assets after they have died without a will. In Alaska, the intestate succession law sets out the order in which family members are entitled to inherit property and assets, known as intestate succession. When a person dies without a will in Alaska, their possessions and assets will be distributed to their closest relatives, in the following order: First, to the surviving spouse. If there is none, then to the children of the deceased. If there are none, then to the parents of the deceased. If none of those relatives are alive, then the property and assets will be divided among the siblings of the deceased, or if none, the grandparent of the deceased. If none of those relatives are alive, then the property and assets will be divided among the aunts and uncles of the deceased, or if none, the cousins of the deceased. In Alaska, anyone who is entitled to inherit from an intestate estate has a certain amount of time to receive their inheritance. In most cases, the deadline to receive an intestate inheritance is six months from the day the estate is opened. Ultimately, while a will allows people to control and choose how their possessions and assets should be distributed after their death, an intestate estate is the law’s option for distributing possessions and assets if a person dies without a will.

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What is the difference between a will and an intestate estate?

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