What is the Difference Between Testate and Intestate Estates?

Testate estates are estates in which the decedent died with a valid will, and intestate estates are estates in which the decedent died without a valid will.

With testate estates the will controls things like executor/personal representative, guardian nominations for minor children, who inherits (beneficiaries), and how they inherit (to an extent). Since there is no valid will with an intestate estate, these things are determined by state law.