02 Oct My husband died. He has adult children. Do I get anything?

Q. When I married my husband, he already owned a house for seven years prior to the marriage. We lived there during our marriage and I’m still living there now. My husband suddenly died of a cardiac arrest 4-and-a-half months after we got married. There’s seven more years of mortgage payments on the house. He didn’t have a will, and he has four adult children from his first marriage. What am I entitled to?
— Widow

A. We’re so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband so quickly.

Here’s what you should know.

Given that he didn’t have a will, his assets are governed by New Jersey law, said Shirley Whitenack, an estate planning attorney with Schenck, Price, Smith & King in Florham Park.

Get out your calculator.

“When there is a surviving spouse and children of the deceased spouse who are not the children of the surviving spouse, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive the first 25% of the intestate estate, but not less than $50,000, nor more than $200,000 plus half of the balance of the intestate estate,” Whitenack said.

You didn’t say whether there was an executor yet or what kind of relationship you have with your husband’s children.

Consider speaking with an attorney to see what you, and his children, need to do the manage the estate.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on Oct. 2, 2023.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.