What is intestate succession?

Intestate succession is the set of state laws that decide who inherits your property when you die without a valid will. Each state has its own order, typically favoring your spouse and children first, then parents, siblings, and more distant relatives. The catch is that the law's choices may not match yours, and unmarried partners or close friends usually get nothing. Writing a will is the way to take control instead of leaving it to a default formula.