Wrongful death suits are governed by state law, so procedures and available compensation from such lawsuits varies depending on the state in which the lawsuit is filed. The most typical scenario for filing a wrongful death lawsuit involves a surviving spouse and/or dependent children who seek compensation for the loss of their spouse and parent. However, some states permit other relatives, such as grandparents, to bring wrongful death suits regarding a person's death. A wrongful death suit can be filed whenever any person of any age dies as a result of another's negligent acts. As a practical matter, however, the rate of compensation for a working adult with a family is likely to be much higher than for a child or an elderly retired person with grown children. Because family members are not likely to financially depend on either of the latter types of decedents, the potential compensation to be gained from a wrongful death suit is likely to be lower than that for a child or elderly person.