No Will

[devadiva]

If a man dies intestate leaving behind a son and two granddaughters from his first marriage and a son, daughter, granddaughter and three grandsons from his second marriage - who has the premier claim on his estate - the second wife or the first son??

[buildersmate]

Is this a trick question to test whether we are up-to-date in our knowledge?
In England & Wales the law was changed from 1 February this year such that the first �250k of the estate goes to the second wife, the rest is shared such that the second wife also gets a life-interest in half the remainder and the other half goes to the first marriage children. In your example, the first son.
Before that date, it all went to the second wife.

[devadiva]

Not a trick question at all - a genuine enquiry and many thanks for your clear explanation.