Intestate Succession in Massachusetts
State-specific overview · Estate & Probate
Massachusetts prioritizes surviving spouses and descendants equally, with no distinction between half and whole siblings.
How Massachusetts treats Intestate Succession
If the deceased leaves a spouse and children, the spouse receives the first $200,000 plus one-half of the remaining estate, with children splitting the rest. If no spouse exists, children inherit equally regardless of whether they share both parents. Massachusetts treats adopted children identically to biological children for succession purposes.
The general definition of Intestate Succession
The legal process of distributing a deceased person's property when they leave no valid will.
If someone dies without a will (or with an invalid will), state law determines who inherits their property. Each state has a set order of priority—usually spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate and follow these statutory rules, even if the deceased person's wishes were different.
Read the full Intestate Succession entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.