What does the word heir mean?

Answer 1

According to Black's Law Dictionary an heir is a person who is entitled to inherit under the laws of intestacy. However, heir is also generally used to describe any person who inherits either by will or intestate succession.

Answer 2

In law, an heir is a person who is entitled to receive an intestate (without a will) decedent's property under the laws of intestacy. However, informally, people use that term to mean any person who inherits property from an estate either with or without a will.

Answer 3

An heir is a person who would inherit under the laws of intestacy. The term is also used more informally to mean any person who inherits through testacy or intestacy.