“Dying without issue” is a legal term that refers to a person passing away without leaving any surviving children or descendants. In inheritance and estate law, it is often used to determine the distribution of assets when a person dies without direct heirs.
When someone dies without issue, their estate may be distributed according to intestacy laws or the terms of their will. Intestacy laws vary by jurisdiction, but generally, if a person dies without a will or if their will does not specify how their estate should be distributed, the estate may pass to the closest living relatives, such as parents, siblings, or more distant relatives.
If a person dies without any surviving relatives, their estate may be escheated to the state, meaning that it becomes the government’s property.
Individuals need to have a clear and updated estate plan, including a will, to ensure that their wishes are followed and to avoid complications in distributing their assets after death.
In Canada, like the United States, the term “dying without issue” refers to a situation where an individual passes away without any surviving children or descendants. The distribution of the deceased person’s estate is typically governed by the laws of intestacy in the province or territory where the person resides.
Each province and territory in Canada has its own set of rules regarding intestate succession, and these rules may differ. Generally, if a person dies without a will (intestate) and without surviving children or descendants, the estate may be distributed among other close relatives, such as a surviving spouse, parents, siblings, or more distant relatives, depending on the specific laws of the jurisdiction.
In the United Kingdom, the term “dying without issue” also refers to a situation where an individual passes away without any surviving children or descendants. The distribution of the deceased person’s estate in the absence of a will is governed by the laws of intestacy.
If someone dies intestate (without a will) and without surviving issues (children or descendants), intestacy rules in the relevant part of the UK will determine how the estate is distributed. The specific rules can vary between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
