What Happens if You Die Without a Will?

If you die without a will (aka as Intestate), Oklahoma's laws of descent and distribution will determine who receives your property by default. Typically the distribution of your assets would be to your spouse and children, or if none, to other family members. Oklahoma's intestate statute reflects the Oklahoma legislature's best guess as to how most people would dispose of their estates and builds in protections for certain beneficiaries, particularly minor children. That Oklahoma statutory plan may or may not reflect your actual wishes, and some of the built-in protections may not be necessary in a harmonious family setting.

To best avoid the State automatically making the decisions, you should prepare a will or utilize other estate planning tools to create a plan to best suit your personal preferences and wishes.  A good estate plan also permits you to exercise control over a myriad of personal decisions that the Oklahoma intestacy statute does not address.