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What happens to your estate if you die without a will in Indiana?

What happens to your estate if you die without a will in Indiana?

When an Indiana resident dies without a Last Will and Testament, they are automatically entered into the state’s intestacy probate process. Each state controls the functioning of this process through the intestacy succession laws.

What happens if you die without a will in Indiana?

Dying Without a Will in Indiana. Intestate succession becomes the blueprint for the inheritance of a decedent’s property should he or she die without having created one. Each state handles this scenario differently, though in Indiana, intestate heirs include everyone from your spouse and children to your aunts and uncles.

What happens to your intestate property if you die?

If you don’t, then your spouse inherits all of your intestate property. If you do, they and your spouse will share your intestate property as follows: If you die with parents but no descendants.

Who are the heirs to an intestate estate in Indiana?

Unless you decide to adopt your stepchildren and foster children legally, they will not be granted any rights to your intestate estate. Unmarried Individuals Without Children in Indiana Inheritance Law. A surviving spouse and surviving children are typically the most common types of intestate heirs.

How is a small estate transferred in Indiana?

The family can transfer the assets by an affidavit or written statement. The small estates process involves providing the court an affidavit (45 days or more after the death) showing the decedent’s debts and property (less than $50,000), and with the names and address of all heirs entitled to the decedent’s property.

What happens to intestate property when you die in Indiana?

In Indiana, if you are married and you die without a will, what your spouse gets depends on whether or not you have living parents or descendants — children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. If you don’t, then your spouse inherits all of your intestate property.

What are the intestacy succession laws in Indiana?

Each state controls the functioning of this process through the intestacy succession laws. In Indiana, these laws are found in the Indiana Code Title 29 § 29-1-2-1.

What happens if a husband dies without a will?

Unfortunately, this client’s husband died without a will (he died “intestate”), so I had another surprise for her when we met for the first time: she was not the only beneficiary of his estate. In Indiana, the laws of “intestate succession” determine how your property will be distributed if you die without a will.

How does probate work for inheritance in Indiana?

The Probate Process in Indiana Inheritance Law. While it typically gets a bad rap, probate was added into Indiana inheritance laws to protect the last wishes of a decedent, whether he or she had a testate will or not. If a decedent died intestate, the court will try to ensure proper intestate succession.