In Japan anyway, unless the deceased left a will, the assets are split between spouse, children, then other living relatives (in that order)[0].
If the estate is valuable (ie. a large land plot in Tokyo bought before the boom years), the heirs often can't afford to pay the hefty inheritance tax and thus the property is sold and then subdivided.
If the estate is valuable (ie. a large land plot in Tokyo bought before the boom years), the heirs often can't afford to pay the hefty inheritance tax and thus the property is sold and then subdivided.
[0]: http://www.retirejapan.info/blog/japanese-inheritance-taxes