Inheritance, with No Will

[grandmashakey]

My husband of 20 + years inheritated 34 shares of stock from his parents business. Three other siblings share the rest of the stock. The two of us have been running the business for about 25 years. I am the secretary/treasurer/office manager...I do all the books. The stock certificate is in a joint lock box at the bank. He has 2 adult children from 2 previous marriages. Without a will how will the stock be devided?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You mean, when he dies?

As you were told when you posted, laws are different in each state. If you're talking about Illinois,

The intestate real and personal estate of a resident decedent and the intestate real estate in this State of a nonresident decedent, after all just claims against his estate are fully paid, descends and shall be distributed as follows:

(a) If there is a surviving spouse and also a descendant of the decedent: 1/2 of the entire estate to the surviving spouse and 1/2 to the decedent's descendants per stirpes.

(b) If there is no surviving spouse but a descendant of the decedent: the entire estate to the decedent's descendants per stirpes.

(c) If there is a surviving spouse but no descendant of the decedent: the entire estate to the surviving spouse.

(d) If there is no surviving spouse or descendant but a parent, brother, sister or descendant of a brother or sister of the decedent: the entire estate to the parents, brothers and sisters of the decedent in equal parts, allowing to the surviving parent if one is dead a double portion and to the descendants of a deceased brother or sister per stirpes the portion which the deceased brother or sister would have taken if living.

(e) If there is no surviving spouse, descendant, parent, brother, sister or descendant of a brother or sister of the decedent but a grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the decedent: (1) 1/2 of the entire estate to the decedent's maternal grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes, and (2) 1/2 of the entire estate to the decedent's paternal grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes. If there is no surviving paternal grandparent or descendant of a paternal grandparent, but a maternal grandparent or descendant of a maternal grandparent of the decedent: the entire estate to the decedent's maternal grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes. If there is no surviving maternal grandparent or descendant of a maternal grandparent, but a paternal grandparent or descendant of a paternal grandparent of the decedent: the entire estate to the decedent's paternal grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes.

(f) If there is no surviving spouse, descendant, parent, brother, sister, descendant of a brother or sister or grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the decedent: (1) 1/2 of the entire estate to the decedent's maternal great‑grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes, and (2) 1/2 of the entire estate to the decedent's paternal great‑grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes. If there is no surviving paternal great‑grandparent or descendant of a paternal great‑grandparent, but a maternal great‑grandparent or descendant of a maternal great‑grandparent of the decedent: the entire estate to the decedent's maternal great‑grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes. If there is no surviving maternal great‑grandparent or descendant of a maternal great‑grandparent, but a paternal great‑grandparent or descendant of a paternal great‑grandparent of the decedent: the entire estate to the decedent's paternal great‑grandparents in equal parts or to the survivor of them, or if there is none surviving, to their descendants per stirpes.

(g) If there is no surviving spouse, descendant, parent, brother, sister, descendant of a brother or sister, grandparent, descendant of a grandparent, great‑grandparent or descendant of a great‑grandparent of the decedent: the entire estate in equal parts to the nearest kindred of the decedent in equal degree (computing by the rules of the civil law) and without representation.

(h) If there is no surviving spouse and no known kindred of the decedent: the real estate escheats to the county in which it is located; the personal estate physically located within this State and the personal estate physically located or held outside this State which is the subject of ancillary administration of an estate being administered within this State escheats to the county of which the decedent was a resident, or, if the decedent was not a resident of this State, to the county in which it is located; all other personal property of the decedent of every class and character, wherever situate, or the proceeds thereof, shall escheat to this State and be delivered to the State Treasurer pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

In no case is there any distinction between the kindred of the whole and the half blood.

There may be restrictions on how the shares may be conveyed or inherited, associated with the shares themselves.

[grandmashakey]

Sorry I did forget to mention Illinois and of course I do know laws are different from state to state. Thanks for the reminder.

We are both in our late 60's and anticipating retirement soon. He is not interested in making a will and I do have concerns about where I will be financially if he dies first. I am not a greedy person just trying to be a responsible one. I have seen too many (old ladies) left in bad financial situations because their husbands did not take care of business. We have one outstanding loan I know I would have to pay off.

[grandmashakey]

I think if you follow any of my posts you will see there have been past issues with parents and wills. This seems to be the reason my husband thinks a will is more trouble than not having one. His parents had a will and so did mine. His parents had a substantial amount mine had nothing but a house and stuff....both of them caused a lot of grief, that is why my thinking is if the inportant assets are in both our names with right to survivorship we will both be protected as much as possible without the presence of a will. It is the most I can do now. Thank you" Mr Knowitall "you seem to be well informed.