If you die in the state of Oklahoma without a will, you are said to have died intestacy. This means that it is up to the state to divide your assets among your relatives under intestate succession laws. Assets that are divided among family members are ones that are in your name only. Many valuable assets do not go through your will and are untouched by intestacy laws, such as 401(k)s, retirement plans, life insurance, or property you own with someone else.

Read the following to understand intestacy laws in Oklahoma:

• If the deceased leaves behind children but no spouse, the children will inherit everything and divide shares equally.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse but no descendants, parents, or siblings, the spouse will inherit everything.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and descendants from that spouse, the spouse inherits 1/2 of the estate and the descendants inherit the rest.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and at least one descendant from someone other than that spouse, the spouse inherits 1/2 of the property acquired together and splits the remainders equally with the descendants. The descendants also inherit everything else.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and parents, the spouse inherits all of the property acquired together during marriage plus 1/3 of the remaining property, and the parents receive everything else.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and siblings, the spouse inherits all of the property acquired together during marriage plus 1/3 of the property, and the siblings inherit the remainder.
• If the deceased leaves behind parents but no spouse or descendants, the parents inherit all of the property.
• If the deceased leaves behind siblings but no spouse, descendants, or parents, the siblings inherit everything.

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

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one without a will, contact the lawyers at Meyerson O’Neill law firm today at 877-373-8059.