Quora Answer: What Happens to an Inheritance if It is Refused by the Beneficiary?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What happens to an inheritance if it is refused by the beneficiary?”

If the inheritance is refused by the beneficiary, and assuming that the beneficiary has not passed away before the probate process is over, it is distributed according to the will among the remaining beneficiaries.  If there is no will, meaning that the estate is intestate, it is still distributed among the remaining beneficiaries as per intestacy laws.  If the beneficiary who refused predeceased the deceased, or passes away during the process, that portion reverts to the beneficiary’s estate.  If the beneficiary is the sole beneficiary, regardless of intestacy, the estate is claimed by the public trustee.