Community property laws can recognize both spouses as joint property owners in an intestate proceeding. In effect, the distribution hierarchy typically starts with the surviving spouse. If unmarried or widowed at the time of death, assets are usually divided among any surviving children. After a spouse and children are considered, other relatives, such as parents, may also be deemed appropriate for distribution.
If you are close friends with the deceased, you may not automatically be added as a beneficiary under the state’s probate laws. However, if the deceased had a joint account with the right of survivorship or owned property jointly with another, the joint asset would automatically be owned by the surviving partner.