What happens to your property, items etc after death?

Now I thought I knew this, but when the founder male of my family died his items, house, etc did not appear in any of his siblings families. Now I thought it did. I dont have any mods and perhaps i was thinking of when a child was still in the house, but it seems I have lost his possessions - which is a shame as I had just accepted two gifts and he had a very nice sports car!