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

The main difference between a will and an intestate estate is the legal process by which they are distributed. A will is a legal document that is created by an individual, where they specify how they would like their assets to be distributed upon their death. An intestate estate is when a person dies without having created a will, and their assets are distributed according to the laws of the state in which they resided. In Washington, when someone dies without a will, the assets are distributed according to the “intestate succession law”. This law states that the surviving family members (i.e a spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings etc) will inherit the deceased’s assets. The order of inheritance is based on a predetermined list, making sure that certain family members are preferred over others. For example, if the deceased had a spouse but no children, the spouse would inherit all the deceased’s assets. If the deceased did not have a spouse, their children will inherit the assets. A will is different from an intestate estate because it allows an individual to specify exactly how they’d like their assets to be distributed upon their death. This gives the testator more control over their assets and how they will be divided, allowing them to provide for family, friends, or even charities. Overall, the main difference between a will and an intestate estate is that a will allows an individual to specify how they’d like their assets to be distributed upon their death, while an intestate estate distributes the assets according to the state’s predetermined laws.

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

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