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Simple English definitions for legal terms
inheritors
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A quick definition of inheritors:
Inheritors are people who receive some or all of the things that belonged to someone who has died. This is usually written in a special paper called a will. The person who died is usually a family member like a parent. But sometimes, people who are not family members can also receive things if it is written in the will. If there is no will, the people who receive things are called heirs. Heirs are usually family members who are related by blood to the person who died.
A more thorough explanation:
Inheritors are people who are designated to receive some or all of the assets of a deceased person, as stated in their will. Typically, the deceased person is a close family member, such as a parent.
Heirs are individuals who inherit the estate of the deceased person if there is no will. In contrast, inheritors are specified in the will and receive the assets according to the deceased person's wishes.
- John's will states that his daughter, Sarah, will inherit his house and car.
- After Mary's death, her husband and children became her heirs and inherited her estate.
In the first example, Sarah is an inheritor because she is specifically named in the will to receive certain assets. In the second example, Mary's husband and children are heirs because they are her closest blood relatives and inherit her estate since she did not leave a will.