Fun Fact Friday: No Will

If a person dies without a will, what happens? The answer to this question is governed by the law of intestate succession:

• First, it goes to his spouse.

• If his spouse is no longer living (or he never had one), then it goes to his descendants.

• If he has no kids, it goes to his parents.

• If his parents are no longer living, it goes to his siblings, then to their descendants.

• If there are none, it goes to his grandparents.

• If they are not living, it goes to his parents' siblings, then to their descendants.

• If there are none, it goes to his great-grandparents, then to their descendants.

. . . And so on, and so forth, until there is a relative to take his estate.

If a blood relative cannot be found even by going very far back in his ancestry, his estate will pass to the relatives of the deceased person's spouse.

And if there is still no person to take, his property will escheat to the Commonwealth.