intestate

[in-tes-teyt, -tit]

adjective

1. (of a person) not having made a will.

   to die intestate.

2. (of things) not disposed of by will.

   Her property remains intestate.

noun

1. a person who dies intestate.

intestate

/ ɪnˈtɛsteɪt, -tɪt /

adjective

1. 1. (of a person) not having made a will

   2. (of property) not disposed of by will

noun

1. a person who dies without having made a will

Other Word Forms

• intestacy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intestate¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin intestātus, equivalent to in- in- ³ + testātus testate

Word History and Origins

Origin of intestate¹

C14: from Latin intestātus, from _in- ¹ + testātus, from testārī to bear witness, make a will, from testis a witness

Example Sentences

Even if your mother-in-law died intestate, your husband would be the sole heir.

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Your friend is giving her son more work and leaving her estate in limbo if she doesn’t make a will, and dies intestate, assuming there was no prior will.

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"The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit," he said.

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He was concerned that if he died intestate, his proprieties would not be passed to Li.

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Most states have laws covering how an estate should be divided when a person dies “intestate,” meaning without a will, as the vast majority of Americans do, Rubenstein said.

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