What are the laws governing intestate succession in each state?

In Florida, the laws governing intestate succession dictate who may receive a deceased person’s estate in the absence of a valid will. The intestacy succession laws in Florida are laid out in the Florida Statutes. Primarily, the law dictates that if the decedent is survived by a spouse and no descendants, the surviving spouse will receive the entire intestate estate. However, if the deceased person is survived by descendants from a previous marriage, the surviving spouse will receive a one-half share of the estate, and the other half will be divided equally among the deceased’s descendants. In the absence of a surviving spouse, the entire estate is distributed equally among the surviving descendants of the deceased person. In addition, if the decedent has no surviving descendants, the estate will be distributed to the decedent’s surviving parents. If neither of the decedent’s parents is alive, the estate is distributed among the decedent’s brothers and sisters. If the decedent is not survived by any relatives, the state of Florida will receive the entire estate. Individuals or organizations who believe they are entitled to inherit from the estate may file a petition with the court claiming an interest in the estate. The court will then review the case and make a determination as to the rightful beneficiaries. These laws governing intestate succession in Florida provide a framework for the distribution of a deceased person’s estate in the absence of a valid will.

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What are the laws governing intestate succession in each state?

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