If you or someone in your family dies in Maine without leaving behind a will, they are said to die intestacy. Intestate succession laws divide the assets left in your name alone among your relatives.

Read the following to understand intestacy laws in Maine:

• If the deceased leaves behind children but no spouse, the children inherit all of the estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse but no descendants or parents, the spouse inherits the entire estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and descendants from the deceased and the spouse, the spouse inherits the first $50,000 worth of intestate property, plus 1/2 the balance of the estate. The descendants inherit the remainder of the estate. The size of each child’s share depends on how many children the deceased had.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and at least one descendant from the deceased and someone other than the spouse, the spouse inherits 1/2 of the intestate property. The descendants inherit the rest of the estate.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and parents but no descendants, the spouse inherits $50,000 worth of the intestate property, plus 1/2 of the balance of the estate.
• If the spouse leaves behind parents but no spouse or descendants, the parents inherit the entire estate.
• If the spouse leaves behind siblings but no spouse, descendants, or parents, the siblings inherit the entire 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 their estate, contact the lawyers at Meyerson and O’Neill law firm today at 877-373-8059.