Who is referred to as an heir in legal terms?

In legal terms, an heir is specifically defined as a person who is entitled to inherit property under the state law of descent, particularly when someone passes away without a valid will. This descriptor is grounded in the laws of inheritance, which dictate how an estate is divided among surviving relatives based on their familial relationship to the deceased.

The term focuses on individuals who are legally recognized as recipients of an estate according to statutory guidelines, rather than based on individual wishes articulated in a will or trust. This means that heirs are typically those who would inherit by default under local laws, such as children, spouses, or other relatives, depending on the jurisdiction's rules regarding inheritance.

The other options do not align with this legal definition. An individual with a valid will is often referred to as a legatee if they are specifically named in that document. A beneficiary of a trust, while related to inheriting property, does not fit the traditional definition of an heir as it pertains to intestate succession (when no will exists). Similarly, a successor in business may refer to someone taking over a commercial role or ownership but does not pertain to inheritance in the context of laws governing estates and inheritance.