If an heir incurred direct financial loss because of the death of a family member, such as payment of funeral expenses or medical expenses, those heirs typically receive reimbursement for those expenses from the settlement. The remaining compensation is divided between the heirs based on their relationship with the deceased person and their future economic loss based on the level of support the deceased person would have provided to the heir had the person lived. Specific state laws may also dictate how damages are divided among heirs. In some states, a spouse may be entitled to a large portion of the compensation in a wrongful death case. In other states, a spouse and children may share equally in the compensation received for the wrongful death claim.