Intestate is a legal term used to describe someone who has died without leaving a valid will. The correct spelling of the word is "in-tes-tate", with stress on the second syllable. In IPA phonetic transcription, this is represented as /ɪnˈtɛstət/. The first syllable "in" is pronounced as the short "i" sound like in "pin". The second syllable "tes" has a short "e" sound like in "bet", and the final syllable "tate" is pronounced like the word "state".
Intestate refers to a legal term that describes a situation where a person dies without having made a valid will to dictate the distribution of their assets and property after their death. This legal term is primarily used in the context of inheritance and succession laws.
When an individual dies intestate, their estate is subject to the laws of intestacy, which vary depending on the jurisdiction. In the absence of a will, a court or relevant legal authority will appoint an administrator to handle the deceased's estate and ensure that the distribution of assets is done according to intestacy laws.
The distribution of assets in intestate succession is typically governed by the laws of the jurisdiction, which determine who the heirs of the deceased person are and how the estate will be divided amongst them. In such cases, the estate is typically distributed among the surviving spouse, children, or other close relatives. The laws of intestacy generally prioritize immediate family members, such as spouses and children, over more distant relatives in the inheritance process.
It is important to note that dying intestate can sometimes lead to complications, disputes, and delays in the distribution of assets, as there is no specific guidance provided by the deceased on their wishes and intentions. Therefore, it is generally recommended that individuals create a valid will or testament to ensure their assets are distributed according to their own desires after their passing.
• Dying without having made a will; not disposed of by will.
• A person who dies without making a will.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word intestate has Latin origins. It comes from the Latin term in meaning not and testatus meaning to make a will. Therefore, intestate literally means not having made a will.