IOWA PUZZLE

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

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE USING IOWA LAW

Winston left no spouse, parent, brother, sister, nephew or niece, 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)
Ramona & Abigail

ELVIS  (WINSTON’S FIRST 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 descendent of 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.

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