Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts
where deceased leaves a daughter and daughter in-law
The deceased (Mrs. D.) died without a will. She left one daughter and one son. The son died two years before his mother did, and left no children. He does have a wife still alive.
Q. Does the deceased estate get split between her daughter in-law and the daughter, or does the daughter get the whole estate?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: where deceased leaves a daughter and daughter in-law
This may answer your question, at least in part:
� 3. Descent of Real Property.
When a person dies seized of land, tenements or hereditaments, or of any right thereto, or entitled to any interest therein, in fee simple or for the life of another, not having lawfully devised the same, they shall descend, subject to his debts and to the rights of the husband or wife and minor children of the deceased as provided in this and in the two preceding chapters and in chapter one hundred and ninety-six, as follows:
(1) In equal shares to his children and to the issue of any deceased child by right of representation; and if there is no surviving child of the intestate then to all his other lineal descendants. If all such descendants are in the same degree of kindred to the intestate, they shall share the estate equally; otherwise, they shall take according to the right of representation.
(2) If he leaves no issue, in equal shares to his father and mother.
(3) If he leaves no issue and no mother, to his father.
(4) If he leaves no issue and no father, to his mother.
(5) If he leaves no issue and no father or mother, to his brothers and sisters and to the issue of any deceased brother or sister by right of representation; and, if there is no surviving brother or sister of the intestate, to all the issue of his deceased brothers and sisters. If all such issue are in the same degree of kindred to the intestate, they shall share the estate equally, otherwise, according to the right of representation.
(6) If he leaves no issue, and no father, mother, brother or sister, and no issue of any deceased brother or sister, then to his next of kin in equal degree; but if there are two or more collateral kindred in equal degree claiming through different ancestors, those claiming through the nearest ancestor shall be preferred to those claiming through an ancestor more remote.
(7) If an intestate leaves no kindred and no widow or husband, his estate shall escheat to the commonwealth; provided, however, if such intestate is a veteran who died while a member of the Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts or the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, his estate shall inure to the benefit of the legacy fund or legacy account of the soldiers' home of which he was a member.
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Re: where deceased leaves a daughter and daughter in-law
MA Law provides as follows:
� 3. Descent of Real Property.
When a person dies seized of land, tenements or hereditaments, or of any right thereto, or entitled to any interest therein, in fee simple or for the life of another, not having lawfully devised the same, they shall descend, subject to his debts and to the rights of the husband or wife and minor children of the deceased as provided in this and in the two preceding chapters and in chapter one hundred and ninety-six, as follows:
(1) In equal shares to his children and to the issue of any deceased child by right of representation; and if there is no surviving child of the intestate then to all his other lineal descendants. If all such descendants are in the same degree of kindred to the intestate, they shall share the estate equally; otherwise, they shall take according to the right of representation.
(2) If he leaves no issue, in equal shares to his father and mother.
(3) If he leaves no issue and no mother, to his father.
(4) If he leaves no issue and no father, to his mother.
(5) If he leaves no issue and no father or mother, to his brothers and sisters and to the issue of any deceased brother or sister by right of representation; and, if there is no surviving brother or sister of the intestate, to all the issue of his deceased brothers and sisters. If all such issue are in the same degree of kindred to the intestate, they shall share the estate equally, otherwise, according to the right of representation.
(6) If he leaves no issue, and no father, mother, brother or sister, and no issue of any deceased brother or sister, then to his next of kin in equal degree; but if there are two or more collateral kindred in equal degree claiming through different ancestors, those claiming through the nearest ancestor shall be preferred to those claiming through an ancestor more remote.
(7) If an intestate leaves no kindred and no widow or husband, his estate shall escheat to the commonwealth; provided, however, if such intestate is a veteran who died while a member of the Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts or the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, his estate shall inure to the benefit of the legacy fund or legacy account of the soldiers' home of which he was a member.
So it would appear your sister-in-law would not be entitled to the property, absent some other form of claim against the estate.
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