Intestate
Dying without a valid will. When someone dies intestate, state law determines who inherits their assets according to a fixed formula based on family relationships. This may not match what the deceased person would have wanted.
Legal Definition
The condition of dying without a valid will, in which case the decedent's property is distributed according to the applicable state's intestacy statutes, which typically prioritize the surviving spouse and descendants.
Practical Example
When Steve dies without a will, his state's intestacy law gives 50% of his estate to his wife and 50% split among his children. Steve had wanted to leave everything to his wife, but without a will, the law decides.