Resources · Dying without a will
Who inherits when there's no will.
When someone dies without a valid will, the state — not the family — decides who inherits, through rules called intestate succession. Those rules differ from state to state. Each guide below sets out, in plain English and with the statute cited, who inherits where.
Start with the national picture, then read your state.
California
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Florida
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Georgia
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Illinois
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Michigan
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New York
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North Carolina
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Ohio
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Pennsylvania
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Texas
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More states are being added as each one's succession rules are verified against the state's own statute. If your state isn't here yet, the national guide covers the principles that apply everywhere.
A will — kept where your family can find it — is what replaces the state's default with your own wishes.