What happens to the assets in an intestate estate after the death of the deceased?

When a person passes away without leaving a will, their estate is considered to be an intestate estate. In the state of Washington, the estate of an intestate individual will be distributed in accordance with the state’s intestate succession laws. These laws determine who is legally entitled to receive the assets of the deceased. The assets in an intestate estate will first be used to pay any outstanding debts, such as funeral expenses, medical bills, and claims from creditors. After all debts are paid, the remaining assets are distributed among the heirs of the deceased according to Washington’s intestate succession laws. The heirs to an intestate estate include the spouse, children, and other close family members of the deceased. The spouse is the primary heir, and will receive the majority of the estate’s assets. If there is no surviving spouse, the assets are divided equally among the deceased’s children or among other surviving family members, such as siblings, parents, or grandparents. In some cases, the assets of the intestate estate may be subject to a probate process. During probate, the court will review the assets of the deceased’s estate and determine who is legally entitled to receive them. After probate is complete, the assets will be distributed among the heirs according to the intestate succession laws of the state of Washington.

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