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.

Simplified etymology

Intestate, recorded from the late Middle Ages, ultimately derives from Latin testis, “witness,” and means “without a witnessed will.”

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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