How is an intestate estate divided among multiple heirs?

In Washington, an intestate estate is divided among multiple heirs according to the laws of intestate succession. If the deceased individual leaves behind a spouse and one or more children, then the spouse will receive the first $150,000 of the estate plus one-half of any remaining balance. The remaining balance will then be divided among the surviving children. If the deceased individual does not have a surviving spouse, the estate’s assets will be divided among the surviving children. If the deceased individual only has one surviving child, that child will receive the entire estate. If the deceased individual leaves behind two or more children, the estate’s total assets will be divided equally among the surviving children. In some cases, the deceased individual’s parents or siblings may also be eligible to receive a portion of the estate. If the deceased has no surviving spouse, children, parents, or siblings, then the intestate estate will be distributed to any living blood relatives of the deceased in the following order of priority: grandparents; aunts and uncles (and their descendants); and great-grandparents, great-aunts, and great-uncles. It is important to note that if the deceased individual does not have any living relatives as outlined in Washington’s intestate succession laws, then the entire estate will be divided among the state’s general fund, unless the deceased had executed a will prior to their death.

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How is an intestate estate divided among multiple heirs?

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