Does being a ward of the state take all your assets after you die?

Being a ward of the state does not automatically mean that all your assets are taken after you die. The distribution of assets typically depends on state laws and the specifics of individual cases. In many instances, the state may seek to recover costs related to care or support from the deceased's estate, but any remaining assets would generally be distributed according to the deceased's will or, if there is none, through intestate succession laws.