American Samoa § 40.0201 - Succession to personal property.
Full text of American Samoa American Samoa Code Annotated § 40.0201 — Succession to personal property., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 40.0201. Succession to personal property.
When any person having any title to any personal property dies without disposing of such personal property by will, it shall be succeeded to and must be distributed, subject to the payment of debts, in the following manner: (a) Subject to dower, the children of the intestate and such persons as legally represent such children as may be deceased shall share equally in the personal property. (b) If there is no surviving spouse, the personal property shall be distributed equally among all the children and such persons as legally represent such children as may be deceased. (c) If there are no children and no legal representative of a deceased child or children, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to all of the personal property. (d) If there is no surviving spouse and no children and no legal representatives of a deceased child or children, the personal property shall be distributed among the next of kin of the intestate. Case Notes: Process of defining the term “next of kin” within the meaning of inheritance statute can be restated as an inquiry into whether the Legislature intended to adopt the “civil law rule” according to which kinship is determined by a series of steps up and down the genealogical ladder and a person is one step away from his parents and two steps away from his siblings, or the competing “common law rule” according to which a person is related to both his siblings and his parents in the first degree. A.S.C.A. § 40.0201. In re Estate of Ah Mai (Mem.), 14 A.S.R.2d 32 (1990).
Source: official American Samoa text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About American Samoa § 40.0201
What does American Samoa Code Annotated § 40.0201 cover?
Section 40.0201 ("Succession to personal property.") is part of the American Samoa Code Annotated, the codified statutory law of American Samoa. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite American Samoa § 40.0201?
A common citation format is "American Samoa Code Annotated § 40.0201" (American Samoa). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of American Samoa law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the American Samoa official source linked on this page or consult a licensed American Samoa attorney.
How does American Samoa § 40.0201 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in American Samoa can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in American Samoa.