When a person dies with a will, the term used is __________. When a person dies without a will, it is called _________.

The correct terminology to describe the scenarios surrounding a person's death with and without a will is "testate" and "intestate." When a person dies with a valid will, they are said to have died testate. This means that they have made legal arrangements for how their assets will be distributed after their death, as outlined in their will. Conversely, when a person dies without a will, they are considered to have died intestate. In this case, their assets will be distributed according to the state's intestacy laws, which may not reflect the deceased's wishes.

Understanding these terms is crucial in real estate and estate planning, as they influence how property ownership is transferred after someone's death. The other terms mentioned, such as "descent" and "devise," do relate to aspects of inheritance and asset distribution but do not correctly convey the status of whether a will exists or not. Descent pertains specifically to the distribution of property by inheritance, while devise refers to the transfer of real estate specifically through a will. Therefore, the pairing of "testate" for having a will and "intestate" for lacking one accurately reflects the legal circumstances surrounding the distribution of a deceased person's estate.