Heir
A person who is entitled to inherit property from a deceased person under state intestacy law (when there is no will). In common usage, 'heir' is often used more broadly to mean anyone who inherits.
Legal Definition
A person entitled to receive property of a decedent under the applicable intestacy statutes, as distinguished from a beneficiary named in a will or trust.
Practical Example
When Alice dies without a will, her heirs under state law are her husband and two children. They inherit automatically based on the intestacy statute, not because Alice chose them.