Intestacy laws govern a situation where a person passes away without leaving a will (intestate). In instances where you have not left a will, your property is automatically given to your spouse and children. If the remaining children are not descendants of the surviving spouse, the spouse receives one-third of the estate, while the children receive two-thirds. If you die without a spouse and there are no children or parents, the property is then given to your siblings. If none of these people are alive and there is no next of kin, the property is transferred to more distant relatives, as defined by Virginia law.