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Glite Dictionary
intestate

intestate

9.1
A person or property not left by a legal will when someone dies
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈtɛsteɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : intestado
  • When a person dies intestate, their assets are distributed according to state laws.

If someone dies intestate in this country, what happens?

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Examples

  • If someone dies intestate in this country, what happens?

    andrew gold | heretics.

  • Yeah, if you don't know and, like North Carolina intestate law, then maybe you should get a will.

    The Real Estate Lawyer

  • It is important to have a will, as dying intestate can create complications for your family.

  • The intestate estate was settled by the court, following the laws of inheritance.

Antonyms

testate
  • Formal
9.5

Someone who has made a legal will before they die

Surface Forms

intestate positive

Morphology

intestate = testate (semi-transparent) = in + testate

Formed by the regular negative prefix 'in-' on the legal adjective 'testate'; the morphological relation is regular but 'testate' is a specialized term uncommon for average learners.

Etymology

Intestate comes from in- meaning 'not' and the same root as testament, which means 'a will'. So, intestate means 'not having made a will', and that is why a person's money or property is decided by law when they die without a will.