If a good friend of mine passed away recently but left no Will or provisions for his estate, can his son receive the money via probate court?

When a person dies without a will, they are said to have died intestate.  If this is the case the laws of intestate succession of the state where they lived will control who gets what.  The estate needs to be probated and estate administrator needs to be appointed.  Estate counsel should be retained to provide guidance and assistance throughout the estate administration.

Hello. Sorry for the loss of your friend, and the son's father. Further facts need to be known in order to provide appropriate legal counsel. The son should seek legal counsel from an experienced attorney in the state involved in the legal issue. When a person dies without a will, state laws governing intestacy apply. Some attorneys are available seven days for emergency legal needs. Many attorneys will confer initially at no charge. Then, if legal work is performed, some attorneys will provide a reduced fee for financial hardship. Some attorneys may also assist you in limited scope manner to conserve legal costs. All the best.

If he died with no Will, each State will have laws specifying how the assets are to be divided/awarded.  Usually it will first go to a spouse or 1/2 to spouse and other 1/2 to deceased's children if they are not also spouse's children; then children, then to parents, then to siblings, etc.  Son may or may not need to initiate a probate proceeding to settle the matter.  Son should see a local probate attorney to at least learn his options and anticipated costs.