While we generally hear this term used to refer to the first-born child of a king or queen, in the United States, the term has a very specific meaning when used in the context of a decedent’s estate. An heir can be the child, parent, or even sibling of the decedent. An heir is typically a person who is related to the decedent and will receive all or a portion of the decedent’s estate.
The term heir does not apply, though, until the decedent’s death. That’s why we use the term “heir apparent” when referring to the person we believe will inherit. It is possible an heir apparent could die before the person whose estate is to be distributed. Therefore, the person was not an heir.
