If you pass away without a will in Ohio, your assets will go to your closest relatives in “intestate succession.” Only assets that you own alone in your name are affected by intestate succession laws. Under intestate succession, what you receive depends on whether or not you have living children, parents, a spouse, or other close relatives when you pass.

Read the following to understand intestacy law in Ohio:

• If the deceased has surviving children but no spouse, the children inherit everything.
• If the deceased has surviving spouse but no descendants or parents, the spouse inherits everything.
• If the deceased has surviving spouse and descendants from you and the spouse, the spouse inherits everything.
• If the deceased has a surviving spouse and descendants not related to the spouse, the spouse inherits the first $200,000 of the intestate property plus half of the balance of the estate. The descendants inherit everything else.
• If the deceased leaves behind a surviving spouse and more than one child or descendants of those children, and the spouse is the natural or adoptive part of at least one child, the spouse inherits the first $60,000 of the intestate property, plus one third of the balance. If the spouse is not the natural or adoptive parent of any of the children, the spouse inherits the first $20,000 of the intestate property, plus one third of the balance of the estate. The descendants inherit the balance.
• If the deceased has surviving parents but no spouse or descendants, the parents inherit all of the estate.
• If the deceased has surviving siblings but no spouse, descendants, or parents, the siblings inherit all of the estate.

To learn more about intestacy law in Ohio, visit www.nolo.com.

For more information on wrongful death laws in Ohio, contact the experts at Meyerson and O’Neill law firm at 877-373-8059.