What happens to a deceased child's share in a New Hampshire estate?

Full question:

In New Hampshire, If the Last Will and Testament stipulates that the estate will be split equally amongst the Children (and does not specify living or dead), and one Child is no longer living, does the estate get split only to living children or does the portion of the estate for the person who is no longer living go to his/her children?

Answer:

In New Hampshire, if a child named in a will dies before the estate is divided, their share typically goes to their children. This is known as per stirpes distribution. Under this rule, the deceased child's heirs inherit the portion their parent would have received if they had been alive. New Hampshire law supports this approach, as stated in NH statute 551:12, which says that heirs in the descending line of a deceased legatee will take the estate as if the legatee had survived.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Intestacy in New Hampshire occurs when a person dies without a valid will. In such cases, the estate is distributed according to state intestacy laws. Typically, the estate goes to the deceased's closest relatives, starting with the spouse and children. If there are no direct descendants, the estate may pass to parents, siblings, or more distant relatives. New Hampshire law outlines the specific order of inheritance in these situations. *Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.*