Does an intestate estate automatically go to a surviving spouse?

In Alaska, the answer to the question of whether an intestate estate automatically goes to a surviving spouse depends on the surviving spouse’s relationship to the deceased. If the surviving spouse is the deceased’s spouse at the time of death, and they are the only spouse, then the surviving spouse will receive the entire intestate estate. However, if the surviving spouse is a putative spouse, meaning that they have a legitimate interest in the estate, but they are not officially married to the deceased, then the surviving spouse only receives a portion of the intestate estate. If the deceased is survived by multiple spouses, then each surviving spouse will receive an equal portion of the intestate estate. If the deceased is not survived by a spouse, then the intestate estate will automatically go to the deceased’s lineal heirs, such as the deceased’s children or grandchildren. In Alaska, if a deceased has no lineal heirs, then the intestate estate will go to the deceased’s parents or siblings. If none of the above relatives are alive, then the intestate estate will go to the deceased’s extended family. In cases where there are no surviving relatives, the intestate estate will pass to the State of Alaska. Therefore, it is important for individuals to create a valid will to ensure that their estate is divided in accordance with their wishes.

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Does an intestate estate automatically go to a surviving spouse?

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