Intestate Succession Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Intestate Succession.

Intestate Succession (noun)

An instance or process in which a deceased person's property and assets are distributed according to legal guidelines because the person has not left a valid will. This typically includes the property going to the closest surviving family members, such as the deceased's spouse or children, as determined by the laws of descent, distribution, and marital rights.