Adult "filii" remained under the authority of their "pater" and could not themselves acquire the rights of a "pater familias" while he lived. Legally, any property acquired by individual family members (sons, daughters or slaves) was acquired for the family estate: the "pater familias" held sole rights to its disposal and sole responsibility for the consequences, including personal forfeiture of rights and property through debt. Those who lived in their own households at the time of the death of the "pater" succeeded to the status of "pater familias" over their respective households ("pater familias sui iuris") even if they were only in their teens. Children "emancipated" by a pater familias were effectively disinherited. If a "paterfamilias" died intestate, his children were entitled to an equal share of his estate. If a will was left, children could contest the estate.