What legal situation occurs when someone dies intestate?

When someone dies intestate, meaning they did not leave a valid will, the distribution of their property is governed by state intestacy laws. Typically, these laws establish a hierarchy of heirs based on familial relationships. If the deceased has no surviving relatives, their property is indeed directed to the state. This situation is essentially a fallback mechanism to ensure that the estate doesn’t remain unclaimed and is instead managed according to the state's legislative framework.

Other outcomes like even distribution among heirs or selling the property at auction do not accurately capture the legal principles at play in intestacy situations. The laws guide distribution primarily to heirs, and if no heirs are available, the state becomes the final recipient of the deceased’s assets. The option regarding the property remaining unchanged does not apply, as intestate succession requires some form of legal resolution regarding the deceased’s estate.