heir-at-law

Examples

• All

• As the only child, John became the heir-at-law to his father's estate.

• If a person dies without a will, the heir-at-law is entitled to inherit the property by default.

• The court had to determine who was the rightful heir-at-law under state statutes.

• John is the sole heir-at-law of his uncle.

• When someone dies without a will, their closest relatives become heirs-at-law entitled to inherit their estate.

• After the court declared him an heir-at-law, he was able to claim his share of the family property.

• As an heir-at-law, she was automatically entitled to the estate left behind by her late uncle.

Synonyms

H

heir

vsheir-at-law

179 4.6

A person who gets money, property, or a title when someone dies

refers specifically to legal entitlement when no valid will exists

I

inheritor

vsheir-at-law

7 4.6

A person who is allowed by law or a will to receive someone's property after they die

is entitled only when someone dies without a valid will

I

inheritress

vsheir-at-law

• Archaic

9.4

A woman who gets property or a title when someone dies

is used only for entitlement when no valid will exists

I

inheritrix

vsheir-at-law

• Archaic

9.9

A woman who receives property or a title from a family member who died

is limited to legal entitlement when no valid will exists

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology