Question

For each of the following , assume the decedent died without a will and all the decedent's debts have been paid, as have all of his last sickness, funeral, and settlement of estate expenses. Base your answers on the following statutes:

a. Juan

Juan died, leaving a wife, Carmen, whom he adored, and a brother, James, whom he hated and had not seen for the past thirty years. For each of the following determine how much of Juan's estate Carmen will inherit and how much James will inherit.

1. Juan leaves $180,000.

Wife Carmen:
Brother James:

2. Juan leaves $500,000.

Wife Carmen:
Brother James:

3. Juan leaves $500,000. Assume James had predeceased Juan but has a living child, James, Jr., whom Juan has never met.

Wife Carmen:
Nephew James, Jr.:

b. William

William died with an estate of $500,000. He left a wife, June, but no issue and no kindred. How much will June inherit?

June:

c. Mary

Mary died with an estate of $500,000. She left a husband, John, and two living children, Rachel and Albert. How will the estate be divided among her husband and children?

Husband John:
Daughter Rachel:
Son Albert:

d. Roberto

Roberto died with an estate of $500,000. He left a wife, Maria, and a living child, Bill, who has a child, Jill. His other child, Sam, predeceased him. Sam has two living children, Tracy and Tim. How will the estate be divided among his wife, Maria; his child, Bill; his grandchild Jill; and his grandchildren Tracy and Tim?

Wife Maria:
Son Bill:
Grandchild Jill:
Grandchild Tracy:
Grandchild Tim:

e. Samantha

Samantha died with an estate of $500,000. She left no husband and no children. They had all predeceased her. However, she did leave five grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren, Amy and Albert, are the children of her deceased son, Robert. The other three grandchildren, Bonnie, Brad, and Bennett are the children of her deceased daughter, Emily. How will the estate be divided among the five grandchildren?

Grandchild Amy:
Grandchild Albert:
Grandchild Bonnie:
Grandchild Brad:
Grandchild Bennett:

Answer 1

Inheritance laws vary based on the presence of a will and the surviving family members. Carmen will inherit everything in scenarios a1, a2, a3, b, and e. James Jr. will inherit everything in a3. June will inherit everything in b. John, Rachel, and Albert will each inherit 1/3 of the estate in c. Maria will inherit 1/2 of the estate in d, while Bill, Jill, Tracy, and Tim may potentially inherit portions of the estate depending on the order of deaths.

Step-by-step explanation:

The absence of a will and with no children:

Wife Carmen: In the absence of a will and with no children, Carmen will inherit everything. Brother James: James will not inherit anything as Carmen is the surviving spouse. Wife Carmen: In the absence of a will and with no children, Carmen will inherit everything. Brother James: James will not inherit anything as Carmen is the surviving spouse. Juan leaves $500,000. Assume James had predeceased Juan but has a living child, James, Jr., whom Juan has never met. Wife Carmen:

Daughter Rachel and Son Albert: Each child will inherit 1/3 of the estate. Wife Maria: In the absence of a will and with living children and grandchildren, Maria will inherit 1/2 of the estate. Son Bill: Bill will inherit the remaining 1/2 of the estate as the surviving child. Grandchild Jill: Jill will not inherit directly unless Bill predeceases Roberto. In that case, Jill will inherit her father's portion. Grandchildren Tracy and Tim: Tracy and Tim will not inherit directly unless both Bill and Jill predecease Roberto. In that case, Tracy and Tim will inherit their father's portion.