How is the applicable state's intestacy law determined for personal property?

The applicable state's intestacy law for personal property is determined by the decedent's domicile at death. This principle emphasizes that the laws governing the distribution of a person's estate upon death—when no valid will exists—are anchored in the state where the decedent was legally considered to reside at the time of death. A person's domicile is their permanent home, and it reflects their intent to remain in that location.

When intestacy laws apply, they dictate how personal property, assets, and debts are distributed among heirs according to statutory succession rules. Thus, understanding the decedent's domicile is critical, as it connects the legal framework that will govern the estate distribution directly to the laws of that particular state.