2007-02-18 22:02:51 · 15 answers · asked by edward52 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Government will take over.
2007-02-18 22:06:06 · answer #1 · answered by Sheeth 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If one dies without a will, it is called an "intestate" death. In the United States, each state has its own intestancy laws. These provide who gets the person's assets when he dies. Basically, the order of succession is something like this: spouse, children, other realtives. If there are absolutely no realtives left, the money goes back to the state. (The legal term is that the money "escheats" to the state.)
However, there may be relatives that you just aren't aware of -- they may be distant relatives, etc. The state's laws will provide how "far out" you look to find relatives.
2007-02-19 08:48:54 · answer #2 · answered by rd211 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone dies without a legal will it is referred to dying intestate. With no relatives the estate will go to a probate court in the county or state of residence. Here is some good info.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestacy
2007-02-19 06:17:39 · answer #3 · answered by Enigma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Essentially when there are no relative an administrator will be appointed, property may go via bona vacantia to the crown, land goes via the escheat office in london. No one owns land in the uk apart from the crown, you can only have an estate in land known as fee simple absolute in possession or fee simple for term of years absolute, ie freehold and leasehold respectively, so peopl act surprised when this happens
2007-02-19 11:13:52 · answer #4 · answered by logicalawyer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are called 'intestate' if there is no will or the will is invalid. An administrator is appointed to administer the estate. There are rules which govern who may apply to act as administrator.
If there is no will and no relatives at all, everything goes to the Crown.
2007-02-19 06:34:13 · answer #5 · answered by Denzel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really, really no relatives? In my state, it goes to the nearest relative--no matter how far removed. The degree of biological closeness to an individual is know as "consanguinity." In some state, if you are not within a certain degree of consanguinity, the assets go to the state. Where I live, even the most remote relative inherits. Therefore--check the laws of your state. This is an easy question, but only for an atty licensed in your state.
2007-02-19 07:22:15 · answer #6 · answered by David M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The estate becomes the property of the Treasury.They put it up for sale and pocket the money.
2007-02-19 10:02:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the estate is equally divide between any direct descendants. if no descendants can be found the estate goes to the government.
2007-02-19 06:09:30 · answer #8 · answered by drunkredneck45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Government will.
2007-02-19 06:07:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The government takes a huge chunk of it and gives the rest to remaining descendants.
2007-02-19 06:12:40 · answer #10 · answered by Chrissy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋