# abintestate

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abintestate
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

describing a person who has died without leaving a will. This means their family or the government decides how their money and property are shared.

For teachers: referring to a deceased person who has died without a valid will or other legal instrument for the distribution of their estate.

## Examples

- The lawyer explained that the estate was abintestate.
- Since the deceased was abintestate, the court followed the state's default rules for distributing the inheritance to the surviving spouse and children.
- The legal team argued that the assets should be distributed according to the specific wishes outlined in the will, rather than abintestate laws which might favor distant relatives over the intended beneficiaries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.