If you die in Louisiana without a will, your assets will go to your closest relatives under “intestate succession” laws. Only assets that would have passed through your will alone in your own name will go through intestate succession. Many valuable assets, such as a 401(k) or other retirement accounts do not go through intestate succession laws.

Read the following to understand Louisiana intestacy laws:

• If the deceased leaves behind children but no spouse, parents, or siblings, the children inherit the entire estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse but no children, parents, or siblings, the spouse inherits the entire estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind parents but no children, spouse, or siblings, the parents inherit the entire estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind siblings, but no children, spouse, or parents, the siblings inherit the entire estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and children, the spouse has the right to use the deceased’s community property for life. The children inherit the right to use share of the community property subject to the surviving spouse’s right to use it for life, as well as the deceased separate property.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and parents, the spouse inherits all of the community property, and the parents inherit the deceased separate property.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and siblings but no parents, the spouse inherits all of the community property, and the siblings inherit the separate property.
• If the deceased leaves behind siblings and parents, but no spouse, the parents have the right to use the intestate property for life, and the siblings inherit the rest of the estate.

To learn more about intestacy laws, visit www.nolo.com.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one and is dealing with the estate, contact Meyerson and O’Neill law firm today at 877-373-8059.