Final answer:
When a deceased person dies without a will, intestacy laws determine the passing of assets.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a deceased person dies without having a will and/or trust established, they are said to have died intestate. This means that the courts will control the passing of assets based on state intestacy laws. Every state has its own set of laws stating who gets what and in what hierarchical order; spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.