Intestate Succession Attorney Serving Hartford County And Across Connecticut
Losing someone you love is hard enough. Finding out they left no will means you now face a legal process you never prepared for. At Steier & McCormick, LLC, we understand that struggle. Our team brings over 40 years of experience to Connecticut probate cases and steps in immediately to take the lead on yours. You get a team that moves fast, clears every obstacle in your path and will not stop until your family reaches the finish line.
How Does Connecticut Law Handle Death Without A Will?
When a person dies without a will in Connecticut, state law takes over the distribution of their estate. Connecticut calls this process intestate succession, and the probate court handles it according to a specific legal framework. The court determines who inherits, in what amounts and in what order.
Connecticut law uses a hierarchy to determine who receives assets when no will exists. A surviving spouse typically receives the first $100,000 plus half of the remaining balance, and their children who survive the deceased share equally in the estate alongside the spouse.
If the person who died has children from a different relationship, the spouse receives half of the remaining estate and the children from another relationship share the remaining 50% equally. If the deceased had no spouse or children, the court looks to parents, siblings and other close relatives.
What Assets Go Through Intestate Succession?
Intestacy does not cover every asset in an estate. Assets the deceased owned solely in their name, with no co-owner or named beneficiary, fall under intestate succession and can include:
- Solely owned bank accounts with no named beneficiary
- Solely owned real estate
- Vehicles titled only in the decedent’s name
- Personal property
- Investment or brokerage accounts with no beneficiary designation
Getting this asset analysis right directly shapes what your family inherits. Our team responds quickly to every new development and stays relentlessly focused on clearing every obstacle in your way.
We Know The Playbook. Let Us Take The Lead.
The weight of uncertainty does not have to stay on your shoulders. Steier & McCormick, LLC, offers free consultations so your family can get clear answers at no cost. Call our office today at 866-895-5199 or reach out to us online to schedule yours.