intestate
C1Formal, Legal
Definition
Meaning
Having died without a valid will.
Pertaining to the condition of dying without a legally effective will, resulting in the distribution of one's estate according to statutory laws of succession rather than personal wishes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a postpositive adjective (e.g., 'he died intestate'). The related noun is 'intestacy'. The concept is binary: one either dies testate (with a will) or intestate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The legal procedures for handling an intestate estate differ between jurisdictions, but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Neutral legal descriptor in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both legal and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJECT (person) + die + intestateThe estate of + NOUN (person) + is + intestateVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; term is technical]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussed in relation to business succession planning and asset distribution.
Academic
Used in law, sociology, and history papers discussing inheritance and property law.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in news articles about celebrity estates or family disputes.
Technical
Core term in probate law, estate planning, and legal practice.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The court must administer his intestate estate.
- If you die intestate, your spouse may not inherit everything.
American English
- She died intestate, so state law determines her heirs.
- Intestate succession laws vary from state to state.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too complex for A2]
- If someone has no will, they die intestate.
- The money went to the government because he died intestate.
- Dying intestate can cause lengthy legal problems for your family.
- The laws of intestate succession divided the property among the children.
- The celebrity's unexpected demise left a vast fortune to be distributed according to intestacy rules, as he had died wholly intestate.
- Legal advisors strongly caution against dying intestate, as it cedes control of asset distribution to statutory formulae.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN (without) + TESTATE (a will/testament). If you die 'in' a state without a 'testament', you are intestate.
Conceptual Metaphor
DYING WITHOUT A WILL IS A STATE OF LEGAL ABSENCE (being in a state of no testament).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian 'без завещания' as an adjective. In English, 'intestate' is the specific, single-word adjective.
- Do not confuse with 'intestine' (кишка).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'He was an intestate'). Correct: 'He died intestate.' or 'He was intestate.'
- Misspelling as 'intestate' (missing the 'r').
Practice
Quiz
What does it mean if a person dies 'intestate'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if a will exists but does not dispose of all assets, the remaining estate is intestate.
The opposite is 'testate', meaning having died with a valid will.
It depends on local law, but typically a spouse, children, or next of kin inherit in a legally defined order.
Primarily yes. It describes the legal status of a deceased person's estate. The estate itself can be described as 'intestate'.