Heirs are individuals who are entitled to inherit a deceased person's property. Many people die having written a will, which describes how they want their property distributed after death. Others die without a will -- or "intestate." State laws provide guidance regarding who receives a deceased person's property in the event the deceased person failed to make a last will and testament. Collateral heirs are a specific class of people who are not direct descendants of a person who passed away.
Intestate Succession
When a person dies with no will, state laws dictate which relatives receive his property and how much each relative receives. These laws are often referred to as "laws of intestate succession." The term "collateral heir" is commonly used when referring to heirs who stand to receive a portion -- or all -- of a deceased individual's estate according to laws of intestate succession, but who are not direct descendents of the deceased person.
Surviving Spouses
Technically, surviving spouses are neither heirs nor collateral heirs; however, they are typically entitled to receive a portion -- and sometimes all -- of their deceased spouse's estate. The law varies from state to state; a minority of states are community property states, while a majority are equitable distribution states. In community property states, when one spouse dies without a will, the surviving spouse may receive all property acquired during the marriage and a portion of the deceased spouse's separate property.
Children
When an individual dies without a will, his children are considered heirs and may receive a portion of his estate. Children are not collateral heirs of their deceased parents because they are direct descendents. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also direct descendents of their grandparents and parents. When a parent dies having left no surviving spouse and no will, children typically receive the estate in equal shares.
Collateral Heirs
Collateral heirs are a class of relatives who are not direct descendents of a deceased person. For example, the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews of a deceased person are all collateral heirs because they are not direct descendents of a deceased person. Cousins, aunts and uncles are also collateral heirs. Collateral heirs may share a portion of a deceased individual's estate -- pursuant to laws of intestate succession -- if the deceased individual had no surviving spouse, children or grandchildren.
Read More: The Hierarchy of Heirs
References
Writer Bio
Ellis Roanhorse has been writing professionally since 2007. His work has been published in the "Loyola Law Review," "The Portland Mercury" and "Carillon Magazine." Roanhorse holds a Master of Arts in political science from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor from the Loyola Marymount School of Law.