ARIZONA PUZZLE

Winston died intestate leaving $100,000.  His only relatives were his Aunt Susie (on his mother’s side) and her two children Ramona and Abigail, and a second cousin Elvis, on his father’s side (i.e., the son of a deceased cousin). How much does each relative receive?

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE USING ARIZONA LAW

Winston left no spouse, brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces, so his Estate is divided with half ($50,000) going to his grandparents (or their descendants) on his mother’s side and the other half ($50,000) going to his grandparents (or their descendants) on his father’s side.     

     MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS            PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS  
WINSTON'S MOTHER (deceased)   AUNT SUSIE  WINSTON’S FATHER (deceased)  AUNT (OR UNCLE) (deceased) 
WINSTON’S FIRST COUSIN (deceased)  
ELVIS  (WINSTON’S SECOND COUSIN)  

MOTHER’S RELATIVES
Winston’s maternal grandparents are deceased, so the $50,000 goes to the descendants of his maternal grandparents. Aunt Susie is the daughter of Winston’s maternal grandmother. She is a descendant Winston’s grandparents and she gets the $50,000. Because Aunt Susie is alive, her children inherit nothing.

FATHER’S RELATIVES
Elvis is Winston’s first cousin on the father’s side. He is the son of Winston’s paternal aunt or uncle and a descendant of Winston’s paternal grandparents. Because Elvis’ grandparents, and parents are deceased, Elvis inherits the other $50,000.

ANSWER: AUNT SUSIE gets $50,000 ELVIS gets $50,000.