What does it mean if a person dies intestate?

When a person dies intestate, it means that they have not made a valid will before their death. This situation leads to the distribution of their estate being governed by state intestacy laws, which dictate how assets will be distributed. Each state has specific rules about who inherits when there is no will, typically favoring close relatives like spouses, children, and parents.

In contrast, if someone had left a will, they would not be considered intestate. Likewise, establishing a trust or appointing an executor typically indicates that there is some form of estate planning involved, which does not align with the definition of dying intestate. Thus, the key takeaway is that dying intestate reflects a lack of a legally recognized document outlining the person's wishes for asset distribution upon their death.