Statute of Distribution

England [1670]

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June 25, 2026

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The Statute of Distribution, enacted in England in 1670, is a law that regulates how the personal property of a deceased person is distributed when they die without a valid will. This statute clarified points left open in earlier legal codifications and became influential, serving as a model for similar legislation in the United States. It addressed the distribution of estates among surviving relatives, with specific provisions for spouses and other kin, reflecting the kinship structures of the time.12

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inheritance
Common law
…practice was codified in the Statute of Distribution in 1670. This in turn became the model for state legislation in the United States, although the state laws show considerable variation in many respects.
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…practice was codified in the Statute of Distribution in 1670. This in turn became the model for state legislation in the United States, although the state laws show considerable variation in many respects.
Read More