How money gets divided depends on how the case was resolved. If the responsible parties decide to settle, families get to decide how to split the money. Ideally, the interests of dependents come first as they are the most affected. Using trusts is one of the many ways families try to protect the younger members of the family. If the case goes to trial, the court decides who gets what. There are two main factors the jury keeps in mind. The first is how financially dependent the person is. Consider, for instance, the difference between a stay-at-home wife and an adult child who works. The second is how close the deceased and the beneficiary were before the incident.