Savvy Senior: The Consequences of Dying Without a Will

Dear Savvy Senior,

What will happen to my money and possessions if I die without a will?

Getting Old

Dear Getting,

If you die without a will, what happens to your assets will be determined by the state you reside in. Every state has intestacy laws in place that parcel out property and assets to a deceased person’s closest relatives when there’s no will or trust. But these laws vary from state-to-state.

A good resource to help you find out how your state works is About.com’s Wills and Estate Planning site, which provides a state-by-state breakdown of how your estate would be distributed if you...