An intestate situation occurs when a person dies without a valid will. How is the estate typically distributed under intestacy?

Prepare for the ATT Law Exam. Practice with multiple choice questions, each providing hints and explanations. Be well-prepared for exam day!

Intestacy means there is no valid will, so the estate isn’t divided by any expressed wishes or equally among relatives. Instead, the distribution follows statutory rules of intestacy that set who inherits and in what proportions. These rules usually start with the surviving spouse or civil partner and any children, then move to more distant relatives in a defined order, and can even revert to the state if no eligible heirs exist. The executor’s job is to administer the estate under these laws—collect assets, pay debts, and distribute according to the intestacy rules—not to decide based on personal wishes. That’s why this option is the correct description.