In the United States, when a person dies without a will state statute dictates who qualifies as an “heir-at-law” to the estate. Heirs-at-law are generally individuals who fall into certain classes of relatives based upon the family structure of the deceased. It’s difficult to summarize certain concepts in a short tip and readers are encouraged to become familiar with the laws regarding intestate succession in the area and time period in which their ancestor lived, but here are some generalities that are typically true–in the absence of a valid will and testament: if you know one heir-at-law is a descendant of the deceased, then other heirs-at-law (except for a potential spouse) are also descendants of the deceased; if you know that an heir-at-law is a cousin of the […]
It can be tempting to overwhelm that newly discovered relative with information or communication. In a word: don’t. A tip from several years ago has some reminders of things to do and not do when you’ve located that new-to-you cousin. Check out MyHeritage’s current offerings!
Recent Comments