What is an Intestate Estate?

An intestate estate is what happens when a person dies without a valid will in the District of Columbia. When this happens, an intestate estate is established and the state’s laws will determine who gets what from the estate. When a person dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed in a predetermined order, usually going first to the deceased person’s spouse and then to the deceased person’s children. If there is no spouse or children, the estate is distributed to the deceased person’s parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. If all of these relatives are not alive or do not exist, the estate is passed to the state. The intestate process in District of Columbia law provides for the efficient distribution of an estate with no legal will. It ensures that a deceased person’s wishes are followed, even if they have not created or updated a will. It also prevents family members from fighting over an estate and ensures that assets are transferred in an orderly and timely manner. If an individual in DC does not want an intestate estate to be established, they must create a valid will and name an executor to manage the estate upon their death. The document must be signed by the individual and witnessed by two unrelated adults. It is important to regularly update a will because the law changes frequently and a will may become invalid if it is not updated.

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What is an Intestate Estate?

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