While a personal representative files the wrongful death lawsuit, the proceeds are distributed to the heirs of the deceased. These proceeds are distributed according to the “statute of distributions,” or Alabama intestacy laws. Under Alabama Code § 43-8-41, intestate share of the surviving spouse is as follows: entire intestate share when there is no surviving issue or parent of the decedent; first $100,000 plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate when there is no surviving issue but the decedent is survived by a parent or parents; first $50,000 plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate when there are surviving issue, all of whom are issue of the surviving spouse also; and one-half of the intestate estate when there are surviving issue, one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse. Alabama Code § 43-8-41 establishes that the part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse or the entire intestate estate if there is no surviving spouse passes as follows: children divide the estate equally if all of the same degree; the parent or parents inherit everything if there are no children; siblings if there are no children or parents; and grandparents or issue of grandparents if there are no children, parents, or siblings.