CALIFORNIA PUZZLE

Winston died intestate leaving $100,000 in securities.  His only relatives are his mother's sister, Aunt Susie, and her children, Ramona and Abigail  and a first cousin Elvis, on his father’s side.  How much does each relative receive?

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE USING CALIFORNIA LAW

Winston left no spouse/DP, parent, brother, sister, nephew or niece, so his Estate goes to his grandparents (or their descendants) according to Probate statute 240 the property is divided into as many equal shares as there are living members of the nearest generation of issue living and deceased members of that generation who leave issue when living.

Winston's nearest living relative is his Aunt Susie.  He has a first cousin which means that an aunt or an uncle on his father's side is deceased.

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

The property is divided into two equal shares.  One for Aunt Susie and one for the deceased Aunt or Uncle on the father's side.  The share for the deceased Aunt or Uncle goes to Cousin Elvis.

TO SUMMARIZE
Aunt Susie is the daughter of Winston's maternal grandmother.  She is a descendant of Winston's grandparents and she gets the $50,000.  Because Aunt Susie is alive, her children inherit nothing.

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 and Elvis gets $50,000.