Can an intestate estate be divided among more than one heir?

Yes, an intestate estate (an estate of a person who dies without having made a valid will) in California can be divided among more than one heir. California law follows the principle of intestate succession, meaning that if an individual dies without a will, their estate will be distributed according to a predetermined statutory scheme. Intestate succession laws specify the order of priority in which different classes of relatives are entitled to which portions of the estate. If something is left over after all of the relatives in the highest priority class have been taken care of, it is then divided among the relatives in the next highest priority class. In California, spouses and children are the highest-priority class of heirs; if the deceased was married, their spouse is usually entitled to the entire intestate estate, unless there are children from another partner. If there are surviving children from multiple partners, the estate is divided into equal shares between the children from each partner, with the surviving spouse receiving one share. If there are no surviving children or spouse, other classes of heirs, such as parents, siblings, and more distant relatives, may be entitled to a portion of the estate. Depending on the size of the estate and the number of relatives entitled to it, the estate can be divided among more than one heir.

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Can an intestate estate be divided among more than one heir?

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