Intestacy—What really happens to my money if I don’t have a will?
A common fear I hear from clients is “If I die without a will, the state will get all my money, right?” No. The state will not trump your relatives as beneficiary if you die without a will. (While Massachusetts may be a priority creditor of your estate, and be due payment for a valid debt such as MassHealth, for our purposes we are referring to the value of your estate after all valid estate debts have been paid.) Massachusetts law decides who gets what, if you die without a