Q: He had a wife. My father is his only child, but the wife has 4 adult children. I read that step children aren’t considered kids in TN and that all his assets would have to be equal distributed between my dad (his only child) and his wife. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: When a person dies without a will, the laws of intestate succession apply. In PA, the surviving spouse takes the first $30,000.00 and the balance of the estate is divided between her and the children born to both of them. (their biological children)