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SOLUTION
TO PUZZLE USING VIRGINIA LAW
Winston
left no spouse, brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces, so his Estate is
divided with half ($50,000) going to his relatives on his mother’s
side and the other half ($50,000) going to his relatives on his
father’s side.
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MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS
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PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS
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| WINSTON'S
MOTHER (deceased)
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AUNT SUSIE
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WINSTON’S
FATHER (deceased)
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AUNT (OR
UNCLE) (deceased)
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WINSTON’S
FIRST COUSIN (deceased)
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ELVIS (WINSTON’S
SECOND COUSIN)
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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 sister of Winston’s mother, so she is a descendant of Winston’s
maternal grandparents. Aunt Susie gets the entire $50,000. Her children
get nothing
because their mother is still alive, and the distribution is “per
stirpes.”
FATHER’S
RELATIVES
Elvis
is a second cousin, so he is the child of Winston’s deceased first
cousin, the grandchild of Winston’s paternal aunt or uncle, and the
great grandchild of Winston’s paternal grandparents.
Because Elvis’ great-grandparent, and grandparents and parents
are deceased Elvis inherits the entire $50,000.
ANSWER: Aunt Susie
gets $50,000 and Elvis gets $50,000.
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