intestate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having died without leaving a legally valid will

   Because their uncle died intestate, the estate was distributed under state law.

2. 2
   adj

   not disposed of by a valid will

   The solicitor explained how intestate property passes to the deceased person's relatives.

3. 3
   noun

   a person who dies without a valid will

   The administrator collected the debts owed to the intestate before distributing the estate.

From Latin intestatus, formed from in-, 'not,' and testatus, 'having made a will.' Testatus comes from testari, 'to make a will or bear witness,' the source of testate and testament.

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