Stanciu v. Williams

Opinion

LEVY, J.

The decedent, Doralee Vema Beckel, died intestate. It is undisputed that, under the laws of intestate succession, the estate will pass to the decedent’s surviving first cousins and to the surviving issue of deceased first cousins. The question on appeal is at what generation, if any, do lineal descendents of a predeceased intestate heir lose their status as surviving issue entitled to a share of the estate?

In the petition for determination of persons entitled to distribution, respondent, Maureen Stanciu, the estate’s administrator, limited surviving issue to the children of the…