If you die in the state of Iowa without a will, you are said to have passed away intestacy. Iowa intestate succession laws are in place to pass the assets you owned in your name only on to your closest family members. For children to inherit from you under laws of intestacy, they must be your children legally. For some families, this is a confusing issue. Adopted children will receive an intestate share as biological children do. Foster children and step children you never legally adopted will not receive a share of the intestate property. Children you placed for adoption who were never legally adopted will not receive a share. Your grandchildren will receive a share if their parent, your child, has died before you.

Read the following to understand intestacy laws in Iowa:

• If the deceased leaves behind children but no spouse, the children will inherit everything.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse but no descendants, the spouse will inherit everything.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and descendants from the deceased and the spouse, the spouse inherits everything.
• If the deceased leaves behind a spouse and at least one descendant from the deceased and someone other than the spouse, the spouse will inherit 1/2 of the intestate real estate and at least 1/2 of the intestate personal property, provided the spouse’s share is worth at least $50,000. The descendant(s) will inherit the rest in equal shares, if more than one descendant is living.
• If the deceased leave behind parents, but no spouse or descendants, the parents will inherit everything.
• If the deceased leave behind siblings but no spouse, descendants, or parents, the siblings will 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 and O’Neill law firm today at 877-773-3515.