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Intestacy: meaning, definitions and examples

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intestacy

 

[ ɪnˈtɛstəsi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal terminology

Intestacy refers to the condition of an estate of a person who dies without having made a valid will. When a person dies intestate, their estate is distributed according to the laws of intestate succession, which vary by jurisdiction. This means that the court will determine how the deceased's assets are to be divided among surviving relatives.

Synonyms

dying without a will, intestate condition

Examples of usage

  • She died intestate, leading to a complicated distribution of her estate.
  • Intestacy laws dictate that her children will inherit her property.
  • The intestacy process can lead to disputes among family members.

Translations

Translations of the word "intestacy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 intestância

🇮🇳 अवशेष

🇩🇪 Intestater

🇮🇩 intestasi

🇺🇦 інтестатція

🇵🇱 intestacja

🇯🇵 遺言のない状態

🇫🇷 absence de testament

🇪🇸 intestato

🇹🇷 mirasçı

🇰🇷 유언 없는 상태

🇸🇦 عدم وجود وصية

🇨🇿 intestace

🇸🇰 intestácia

🇨🇳 无遗嘱状态

🇸🇮 intestacija

🇮🇸 óskráð

🇰🇿 мұрагерлік

🇬🇪 ტესტამენტის არქონა

🇦🇿 vasiyyətin olmaması

🇲🇽 intestado

Word origin

The term 'intestacy' is derived from the Latin word 'intestat', which means 'not having made a will'. It has been used in English legal language since at least the 15th century. The concept is rooted in the necessity of having a legal mechanism to handle the distribution of an individual's estate upon death, especially in cases where the deceased did not express their wishes through a will. As societies evolved and family structures changed, the rules governing intestacy became more complex, reflecting different societal norms and the need to address various familial relationships that could arise in inheritance cases. The legal framework surrounding intestacy seeks to ensure that the deceased's assets are distributed in a manner that aligns with what is commonly accepted in society, usually prioritizing close relatives.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,679, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.