2. if the hu*****and leaves no will, go by the state intestacy law. Say in new york, the wife takes the first $50,000 and half of the rest. The other half goes to the children. If there is no children, everything goes to the wife.
3. if there is anything jointly owned by survivorship, the wife takes it by default.
One thing from Single Cat to correct, whatever wife takes is exempted from estate tax. That is called marriage exemption.