Heir

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Someone (usually a blood relative or spouse) who inherits personal or real property under state law when there is no valid will

The chain of inheritance is created by state law. This is called the law of intestate succession.

For example, under most state intestate succession laws, a married person who dies without a will and without children and is survived by the decedent’s spouse will be considered the sole heir and therefore will receive the decedent’s entire estate.

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