Are you entitled to receive a bequest if you murdered the bequestor?

Question

If a person is named as the sole beneficiary of a will or a life insurance policy but the person has murdered the bequestor, is the person still entitled to receive the estate? If there are no other beneficiaries, does the state simply keep the funds?

I'm not planning anything, but my friend and I were wondering whatever happened to the estate that the Menendez brothers killed their parents for.

Answer 1

Sounds like the old joke about the guy who killed his parents and then begged the court for mercy because he was an orphan.

No, you would not profit on your crime.

Answer 2

No, I do not think they get it, I think it is forfeited once a murder conviction is final.

Answer 3

No, beneficiaries who are convicted of killing a decedent are not able to collect.  They are treated as predeceasing the decedent, so the next in line beneficiaries would get a larger share.    

Answer 4

Probably not. Most states have laws that prevent this. They're called "Slayer" statutes.