The part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse under § 502 of this title, or the entire intestate estate if there is no surviving spouse, passes as follows:

(1) To the issue of the decedent, per stirpes;

(2) If there is no surviving issue, to the decedent’s parent or parents equally;

(3) If there is no surviving issue or parent, to the brothers and sisters and the issue of each deceased brother or sister, per stirpes;

(4) If there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, then to the next of kin of the decedent, and to the issue of a deceased next of kin, per stirpes;

(5) Any property passing under this section to 2 or more persons passes to such persons as tenants in common.

59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § ?1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1;

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Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 12 Sec. 503

  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Per stirpes: The legal means by which the children of a decedent, upon the death of an ancestor at a level above that of the decedent, receive by right of representation the share of the ancestor