How is an intestate estate divided if there are no surviving relatives?

In Georgia, if there are no surviving relatives of an intestate estate, the intestate estate will be passed to the state. This is known as the Escheat Law. It states that the assets of the deceased will be divided among the state and its respective municipalities. The state will take any real estate, any cash in the estate, and any other personal property that the deceased had ownership of. This ensures that the deceased’s money and assets are not wasted, but instead, are put to a good use by the state. The intestate estate is divided in proportion to how the state sees fit. Generally, the money and assets will be put towards public works projects, such as schools, parks and roads. The state will also use the money to help fund operations of local governments. The deceased’s creditors will also be paid with the estate’s funds and property before the estate is turned over to the state. This is to ensure that the deceased’s debts are taken care of before anything else is done. After all the creditors are paid, if there is any leftover money or property, the state will distribute the remaining assets to charitable organizations in the state. The state looks at different organizations and considers the deceased’s religious beliefs, interests, and charitable causes in order to determine which organization(s) to donate the remaining assets to. In summary, an intestate estate in the state of Georgia will be divided among the state and its respective municipalities if there are no surviving relatives. The remaining assets from the estate will be distributed to creditors, and then to charitable organizations depending on the deceased’s wishes.

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