Under what condition do surviving spouses take an entire estate according to the Uniform Probate Code?

Surviving spouses are entitled to inherit the entire estate when there are no surviving descendants of the decedent. This provision within the Uniform Probate Code is designed to prioritize the rights of the surviving spouse in the absence of children or other direct descendants. The rationale behind this rule is to ensure that the spouse, who may have relied upon the decedent for support and companionship, is not left without any share of the estate when there are no other immediate family members to consider.

If a decedent has surviving children or grandchildren, the estate would typically be divided among the spouse and the descendants according to the laws governing intestate succession. Thus, in the presence of surviving descendants, the spouse's share would not be the entirety of the estate.

The other conditions outlined do not directly grant the spouse the entirety of the estate. The absence of living parents (first choice) does not impact the priority of descendants over the spouse's share. An invalid will (third choice) can complicate the distribution process but does not automatically benefit the spouse in terms of receiving the entire estate if children are present. Lastly, a prior agreement (fourth choice) might create specific distribution terms but does not inherently affect the spouse's rights unless explicitly stated. Therefore, as long as