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It varies by state...

"Probate law is the field of law that determines how an estate must be divided. Each state has its own laws and statutes requirements to determine if and how an estate must be probated. Common factors include:

• Size of the estate. In some states, anything more than $3,000 must be probated; in others the limit is as high as $200,000.
• Whether the estate includes real estate. 
• Whether or not there is a surviving spouse.
• The number of motor vehicles in the estate.
• Any liens, debts, or taxes due on the estate.
• The presence of a will, and the number of named heirs. "

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/probate.asp

You don't tell us what state your parents are in. You can look it up for their state to find out.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Generally, there is a line of succession. If there is a living spouse, it goes to them. If not, it is split amongst the living children. If there are none, the estate would be divided amongst the decedents siblings. If no siblings exist, then it would go to the children of the deceased children and so forth.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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The next of kin in family who is best equipped to do this work should apply to be administrator (in a will it is "executor" and in case of intestate it is "administrator"). A probate attorney or Trust and Estate attorney can help with the application to get it through quickly.

It would be very good if the family gets together and makes this decision asap, BECAUSE if there is any fight or argument between siblings the court is VERY LIKELY to take this off the hands of the family and appoint as Fiduciary a probate attorney. This of course will considerably diminish the amount for distribution to heirs. And will likely take a longer time as this attorney will be in no hurry to settle this estate.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Even more generally than the prior two answers:

If someone dies and has no will, then they are considered “intestate”.

search for “intestate” + your parent’s state’s name, and it will probably give you good additional information.
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Reply to Rumbletown
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