Term for a person who dies without a valid will?

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Multiple Choice

Term for a person who dies without a valid will?

Explanation:
Dying without a valid will is described as dying intestate. Inestate planning terms, a person who leaves a valid will is said to die testate, with the will naming an executor to handle the estate. When there is no valid will, no executor is named, and the court appoints an administrator to gather assets, pay debts, and distribute them according to the state's intestacy laws. Those laws determine who inherits, typically starting with the surviving spouse and children and extending to other relatives if no spouse or children exist. Understanding this distinction helps explain both the probate process and how heirs are identified when there is no will.

Dying without a valid will is described as dying intestate. Inestate planning terms, a person who leaves a valid will is said to die testate, with the will naming an executor to handle the estate. When there is no valid will, no executor is named, and the court appoints an administrator to gather assets, pay debts, and distribute them according to the state's intestacy laws. Those laws determine who inherits, typically starting with the surviving spouse and children and extending to other relatives if no spouse or children exist. Understanding this distinction helps explain both the probate process and how heirs are identified when there is no will.

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