heir

heir
—heirless, adj.
/air/, n.
1. a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.
2. Law.
a. (in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will, or legal process.
b. Civil Law. a person who legally succeeds to the place of a deceased person and assumes the rights and obligations of the deceased, as the liabilities for debts or the possessory rights to property.
3. a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.
4. a person or group considered as inheriting the tradition, talent, etc., of a predecessor.
v.t.
5. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to inherit; succeed to.
[1225-75; ME eir, heir < OF < L hered- (s. of heres); akin to Gk chêros bereaved]

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One who inherits or is entitled to succeed to the possession of property after the death of its owner.

In most jurisdictions, statutes of descent determine transfer of title to property if no will names the recipient. One may be either heir apparent or heir presumptive during the lifetime of the property holder. An heir apparent's right to an inheritance cannot be voided or undone except by exclusion under a valid will. An heir presumptive's right to inherit may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative. In Britain, the heir apparent of the monarch is the eldest son. If there are no sons, the eldest daughter is heiress presumptive. See also primogeniture.

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▪ law
      one who succeeds to the property of a person dying without a will or who is legally entitled to succeed by right of descent or relationship. In most jurisdictions, statutes of descent determine transfer of title to property if there is no will naming the legatee. In English common law, originally an heir was one who inherited real estate; next of kin inherited personal property. With important exceptions (titles of nobility, etc.) statutory law has all but abolished the distinction.

      One may be either heir apparent or heir presumptive during the lifetime of the property holder. The heir apparent is one whose right to inherit is indefeasible as long as he or she outlives the property holder. The heir presumptive is one whose right may be defeated by the birth of a nearer heir. In Sweden, the eldest child of the sovereign is heir apparent to the crown. In Great Britain, the heir apparent of the sovereign is the eldest son. If there are no sons, the eldest daughter is heiress presumptive unless there is no possibility of the birth of a brother to replace her in the line of descent.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • heir — / ar/ n: one who inherits or is entitled to succeed to the possession of property after the death of its owner: as a: one who by operation of law inherits the property and esp. the real property of a person who dies without leaving a valid will… …   Law dictionary

  • Heir — ([^a]r), n. [OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F. hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Hereditary}, {Heritage}.] 1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heir — [eə ǁ er] noun [countable] LAW the person who has the legal right to receive another person s money, property, or business after that person has died: heir to • Taki is heir to a Greek shipping fortune. * * * heir UK US /eər/ noun [C] ► LAW …   Financial and business terms

  • heir — c.1300, from Anglo Fr. heir, O.Fr. oir heir, successor, from L. heredem (nom. heres) heir, heiress (see HEREDITY (Cf. heredity)). Heir apparent (late 14c.) has the French order of noun adjective, though it was not originally so written in English …   Etymology dictionary

  • heir — An heir apparent is an heir whose claim cannot be set aside by the birth of another heir. An heir presumptive is an heir whose claim may be set aside if another heir with a stronger claim is born. Heir apparent is often used now of a person… …   Modern English usage

  • heir — [ er ] noun count ** 1. ) someone who will receive money, property, or a title when another person dies: a real estate heir heir to: Hesketh was the heir to a grocery fortune. heir to the throne (=the next king or queen): Richard was now heir to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • heir — [eə US er] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin heres] 1.) the person who has the legal right to receive the property or title of another person when they die heir to ▪ John was the sole heir to a vast estate. heir to the throne (=the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Heir — Heir, v. t. To inherit; to succeed to. [R.] [1913 Webster] One only daughter heired the royal state. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heir — [n] person who inherits possessions beneficiary, crown prince/princess, devisee, grantee, heritor, inheritor, next in line, scion, successor; concepts 355,414 Ant. heiress …   New thesaurus

  • heir — ► NOUN 1) a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another on that person s death. 2) a person who continues the work of a predecessor. DERIVATIVES heirship noun. ORIGIN Old French, from Latin heres …   English terms dictionary

  • heir — [er] n. [ME < OFr < L heres: see HEREDITY] 1. a person who inherits or is legally entitled to inherit, through the natural action of the law, another s property or title upon the other s death 2. anyone who receives property of a deceased… …   English World dictionary

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