What happens if a will is deemed invalid?

When a will is deemed invalid, it means that the document does not meet the necessary legal requirements to be considered a valid expression of the deceased's wishes regarding the distribution of their estate. In such cases, the laws of intestate succession come into play. Intestate succession laws are statutes that dictate how a deceased person's assets will be distributed when they die without a valid will.

These laws typically establish a hierarchy of heirs, which may include spouses, children, parents, and siblings, depending on the specific jurisdiction and familial relationships. This ensures that the estate is distributed in accordance with the state’s laws rather than the deceased person's intentions, which highlights the importance of having a valid will to reflect those personal wishes.

The idea that the estate is automatically forfeited is inaccurate; instead, it is simply redistributed according to the intestate succession laws. Additionally, while it's essential to honor the wishes of a deceased person, if a will is invalid, those wishes cannot be respected legally, making option relating to honoring the deceased's wishes incorrect. Likewise, the appointment of an executor has specific legal conditions that are linked to a valid will, meaning that an executor appointed by the family wouldn't come into play in cases of invalid wills.