What is an Heir?

An heir is a person who inherits property or a title from someone who has died, typically a parent or relative. In the context of inheritance law, an heir is a person who is entitled to inherit property or assets from a deceased person's estate.

For example, if John Smith dies and leaves behind a will that names his son, James, as his sole heir, then James would be entitled to inherit all of John's property and assets, including any real estate, bank accounts, or other assets that he owned.

The concept of heirship is important in inheritance law because it determines who is eligible to inherit property and assets from a deceased person's estate. In some cases, there may be multiple heirs, such as children or other relatives, who are entitled to inherit property or assets. In other cases, there may be no heirs, in which case the estate may pass to the state or other entities.