A more thorough explanation:

The augmented estate is the total value of a deceased person's assets that is used to calculate the elective share of the surviving spouse. This is different from what the deceased person left in their will. The Uniform Probate Code determines the augmented estate by adding up the following:

• The decedent's net probate estate (minus funeral and administration expenses, homestead allowance, family allowances, exempt property, and enforceable claims)
• The decedent's nonprobate transfers to the surviving spouse and others
• The surviving spouse's property and nonprobate transfers to others

State probate laws set the percentage of the augmented estate that the surviving spouse is entitled to.

For example, let's say John dies and leaves behind a will that gives all his assets to his children. However, John had previously transferred some of his assets to his sister before he died. In this case, the augmented estate would include the assets transferred to his sister, and John's surviving spouse could claim a portion of those assets as part of their elective share.

Another example is if Jane dies and leaves behind a will that gives all her assets to her children. However, Jane had previously given her house to her husband as a gift. In this case, the augmented estate would include the value of the house, and Jane's surviving spouse could claim a portion of that value as part of their elective share.

The augmented estate ensures that the surviving spouse cannot be disinherited through nonprobate transfers and limits their elective share if they have already received a fair share of the deceased person's wealth through inter vivos transfers or at death through nonprobate means.