In real estate and estate law, Intestate refers to the condition of a person who dies without leaving a valid will. When a person dies intestate, their property is distributed according to state intestacy laws rather than the deceased’s personal wishes.
Under these laws, real property descends to the legal heirs or next of kin, such as a spouse or children, in a prescribed order. Intestate succession ensures that property is transferred even in the absence of a will.
