Father died, separated from wife NJ

your situation falls into category C of the intestate statute which is listed below. The intestate share of the surviving spouse is:  a.  The entire intestate estate if:  (1) No descendant or parent of the decedent survives the decedent;or  (2) All of the decedent's surviving descendants are also descendants of the surviving spouse and there is no other descendant of the surviving spouse who survives the decedent;  b.  The first 25% of the intestate estate, but not less than $50,000.00 nor more than $200,000.00, plus  three-fourths of any balance of the intestate estate, if no descendant of the decedent survives the decedent, but a parent of the decedent survives the decedent;  c.  The first 25% of the intestate estate, but not less than $50,000.00 nor more than $200,000.00, plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate:  (1) If all of the decedent's surviving descendants are also descendants of the surviving spouse and the surviving spouse has one or more surviving descendants who are not descendants of the decedent ;  or  (2) If one or more of the decedent's surviving descendants is not a descendant of the surviving spouse.