If a person's estate passes to them under intestacy laws, who is typically prioritized?

When an estate passes under intestacy laws, the distribution of assets is determined by statutes that prioritize certain family relationships. Typically, the hierarchy begins with the closest relatives, which usually includes a person's spouse and children.

In most jurisdictions, including Georgia, a spouse generally has the highest priority in inheriting under intestate laws, followed by children. If there are both a spouse and children, the spouse often receives a significant portion of the estate, often combined with a share for the children. This prioritization reflects the legal and social emphasis on immediate family, as they are seen as having the strongest claim to the deceased's assets based on familial ties and dependency.

The other groups mentioned, such as siblings, cousins, friends, and charitable organizations, fall lower in the hierarchy of inheritance. For example, siblings and cousins would inherit only if there are no surviving spouses or children. Friends and charitable organizations are typically last in line, as intestacy laws do not prioritize them unless no relatives exist. This structure underscores the legal principle of kinship in inheritance matters.