When a Florida resident passes away without having a will, certain family members might be able to inherit their estate. These include the decedent’s spouse, kids, or siblings. But it largely depends on what their marital status was at the time of death, as well as the relatives that are still alive. The issue, however, has to do with gay and lesbian couples.
Before society expanded its view on same-sex relationships and marriage, a situation like that described above would automatically result in the decedent’s siblings getting their estate, even if they had been estranged for many years. At one time, this was the case even if the surviving gay or lesbian partner was in the decedent’s life for many years and even helped raise children together.
