Intestacy

If you die intestate (without a valid will), you will have given up the right to make decisions regarding who will take your property. If you die without a will your money and possessions will be distributed according to a formula fixed by the "intestacy statute." Pennsylvania law provides a disposition pattern if someone dies without a will. For example, if you are survived by only your spouse, your spouse will receive your entire estate. If you are also survived by children or grandchildren, or one or more of your parents, your spouse would receive the first $30,000.00 plus one-half of the balance of your estate. However, if any one of your surviving children or grandchildren is not also the child or grandchild of your spouse, your spouse would receive one-half of your estate (and not the first $30,000.00). The remainder of your estate, or your entire estate of you are not survived by a spouse, would be distributed to the following relatives in the following order of priority: your issue (children or grandchildren), your parents, your brothers or sisters or their issue (nieces and nephews), your grandparents or their issue, your aunts and uncles and their issue. If you have no relatives in these categories, your estate would go to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.