Tucson, AZ asked in Probate for Nevada

Q: Intestate, spouse deceased, without living parents or siblings, natural, half or adopted, but surviving 1st cousins?

Do the cousins have any claim on the intestate’s estate? Intestate residency is NV and cousins in NC and MD.

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Jonathan Craig Reed
Jonathan Craig Reed
Answered
  • Probate Lawyer
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Licensed in Nevada

A: The cousins have a claim if they are blood relatives which means that there is a common ancestor of the cousin and the deceased. I think under a strict definition of cousins, they are always blood relatives, but with divorces and blended families the term cousin may be used loosely.

Dara Joy Goldsmith
Dara Joy Goldsmith
Answered
  • Probate Lawyer
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Licensed in Nevada

A: Possibly. If the Decedent did not leave a valid Will and the cousins are among the degree of kin that are the closest relatives then they may be intestate heirs.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.