When an estranged parent dies does the grown adult child get anything?

Answer 1

Whether a grown child is estranged from his or her parent does not affect that child's right to inherit from the parent. The grown adult child's right to inherit ("get anything") depends on three things. First, does the adult have a will and is the adult child named in the parent's will? If so, the adult child will inherit, even if he or she is estranged from the parent. Second, if there is no will, then the laws of intestacy determine who gets the property of the dead parent. These laws vary from state to state and are determined by the state of residency of the dead parent. Often, assets of a dead parent are split between a surviving spouce and children under such laws. Lastly, the adult child could inherit ("get something") if he or she is named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, brokerage account, bank account or if he or she is a joint tenant or tenant in common on a piece of property or other asset. These assets pass outside of the dead person's estate and that person's will.