Kentucky widow wins half of $2.33M estate after court ruling on intestate death

A Kentucky appeals court ruled in favor of widow Nancy Perrine following her husband William's death without a will in 2024. The court awarded her half of his $2.33 million investment accounts, even though his children were the named beneficiaries. It also granted her half of $126,000 he gifted to his children and grandchildren shortly before his death. The decision was based on state intestacy laws, which protect a surviving spouse's share of the marital estate.