A relative of mine recently passed away, but he did not have a will, who inherits his property?
Illinois law dictates who inherits a person’s property when they die without a will. • If your relative was married and … • had no children, then his spouse inherits all of his estate. • had children at this death, then his estate is divided between his spouse and children, with one half going to his spouse and the other half being equally divided between his children. • If he was not married, but had children, all of whom are alive, then his children inherit his estate. • If he was not married and never had any children, then his estate is equally divided between his parents and siblings. • Legally adopted children, in most situations, inherit from their adopted parents and not their birth parents. • A child born out of wedlock is an heir of his or her mother, but may only inherit from its father if the child’s father acknowledged paternity during his lifetime or paternity can otherwise be proven. • For other scenarios, consult the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 – Descent and Distribu
