intestacy

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

intestacy
    n 1: the situation of being or dying without a legally valid
         will

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Intestacy \In*tes"ta*cy\, n. [From {Intestate}.]
   The state of being intestate, or of dying without having made
   a valid will. --Blackstone.
   [1913 Webster]

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

INTESTACY. The state or condition of dying without a will.

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