A Maryland law went into effect on October 1, 2017, that increases a surviving spouse's share of an intestate estate. The law provides that the statutory share for a surviving spouse of a decedent who died without minor children, and who died intestate (i.e., without having a Will in place at the time of death) was increased from $15,000 plus one-half of the remainder of the estate to $40,000 plus one-half of the remainder of the estate.