What is the legal term for acquiring an estate by inheritance?

The legal term for acquiring an estate by inheritance is "descent." This term specifically refers to the process by which property is passed down from deceased individuals to their heirs, typically based on the laws of intestacy or through a will. In the context of real property and estate planning, descent denotes the legal rights of heirs or beneficiaries to receive property due to the death of an ancestor, establishing a direct lineage as the basis for the transfer of ownership.

While "succession" may seem similar, it more broadly refers to the overall process of legally transferring assets after someone's death, including both testamentary (through a will) and intestate (without a will) situations. "Ascendancy" does not pertain to the transfer of property at all; it generally relates to dominance or superiority in a more abstract sense, often in social or political contexts. "Transfer" is a general term that describes any movement of property rights from one party to another, but it lacks the specificity associated with inheritance. Understanding these distinctions can clarify why "descent" is the precise term used in legal contexts regarding inheritance.