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Nora died intestate in a state that follows these UPC-style rules: if a decedent is survived by a spouse and at least one descendant who is not a descendant of the surviving spouse, the spouse takes one-half of the intestate probate estate and the decedent's descendants take the remaining one-half by representation. A surviving parent takes only if no descendant takes.
Nora's probate estate is worth $900,000 after debts and administration expenses. Nora is survived by her spouse, Sam; her children Grace and Leo, who are also Sam's children; her adult son Ian from a prior relationship; and Nora's mother. Nora also named Sam as beneficiary of a $200,000 life insurance policy and named Grace as payable-on-death beneficiary of a $60,000 bank account.
Determine which assets are subject to intestate succession and how the intestate probate estate should be distributed. Explain whether Nora's mother receives any share.