JCJC Marriage and Family Practice Test

Intestate distribution hinges on the state’s laws about who inherits when someone dies without a will. A key factor is where the decedent was domiciled at death, because that determines which state's intestacy rules apply. Because each state crafts its own rules about non-resident heirs, there isn’t a single, predictable outcome for a non-resident child. Some states may grant a share to a non-resident child, others may limit or exclude it, and still others may base the share on specific circumstances like the presence of a surviving spouse, the type of property, or whether the child is entitled to amounts from the estate in the state where the assets are located. This variability across jurisdictions makes the likely result uncertain in general terms, which is why the correct choice points to the lack of a uniform answer across states.