If a single person dies without a Will and has a spouse and child, what is the spouse's inheritance?

In the scenario where a single person dies without a Will, the inheritance distribution is determined by the laws of intestacy. In many jurisdictions, when a single person with a spouse and child passes away without specifying their wishes in a Will, the spouse typically inherits a significant portion of the estate.

In this specific case, the spouse's inheritance is often structured so that they receive half of the estate. The remaining half would then be allocated to the child. This division reflects an effort to balance the needs of the surviving spouse while still recognizing the rights of the child. Therefore, the spouse is entitled to half of the estate in this situation, which aligns with the answer provided.

Understanding the concept of intestacy and how state laws dictate inheritance can help clarify why the spouse receives this particular share and can vary based on local regulations, but the answer remains consistent in many jurisdictions.