53-2-1.
(a) For purposes of this Code section:
(1) Children of the decedent who are born after the decedent's death are
considered children in being at the decedentīs death, provided they were
conceived prior to the decedent's death, were born within ten months of the
decedent's death, and survived 120 hours or more after birth; and
(2) The half-blood, whether on the maternal or paternal side, are considered
equally with the whole-blood, so that the children of any common parent are
treated as brothers and sisters to each other.
(b) When a decedent died without a will, the following rules shall determine
such decedentīs heirs:
 (1) Upon the death of an individual who is survived by a spouse but not by any
child or other descendant, the spouse is the sole heir. If the decedent is also
survived by any child or other descendant, the spouse shall share equally with
the children, with the descendants of any deceased child taking that child's
share, per stirpes; provided, however, that the spouse's portion shall not be
less than a one-third share;
(2) If the decedent is not survived by a spouse, the heirs shall be those
relatives, as provided in this Code section, who are in the nearest degree to
the decedent in which there is any survivor;
(3) Children of the decedent are in the first degree, and those who survive the
decedent shall share the estate equally, with the descendants of any deceased
child taking, per stirpes, the share that child would have taken if in life;
(4) Parents of the decedent are in the second degree, and those who survive the
decedent shall share the estate equally;
(5) Siblings of the decedent are in the third degree, and those who survive the
decedent shall share the estate equally, with the descendants of any deceased
sibling taking, per stirpes, the share that sibling would have taken if in life;
provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of
subsection (f) of Code Section 53-1-20, if no sibling survives the decedent, the
nieces and nephews who survive the decedent shall take the estate in equal
shares, with the descendants of any deceased niece or nephew taking, per
stirpes, the share that niece or nephew would have taken if in life;
(6) Grandparents of the decedent are in the fourth degree, and those who survive
the decedent shall share the estate equally;
(7) Uncles and aunts of the decedent are in the fifth degree, and those who
survive the decedent shall share the estate equally, with the children of any
deceased uncle or aunt taking, per stirpes, the share that uncle or aunt would
have taken if in life; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of
paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of Code Section 53-1-20, if no uncle or aunt of
the decedent survives the decedent, the first cousins who survive the decedent
shall share the estate equally; and
(8) The more remote degrees of kinship shall be determined by counting the
number of steps in the chain from the relative to the closest common ancestor of
the relative and decedent and the number of steps in the chain from the common
ancestor to the decedent. The sum of the steps in the two chains shall be the
degree of kinship, and the surviving relatives with the lowest sum shall be in
the nearest degree and shall share the estate equally.
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