escheat
Heirless property transfer
Escheat is the legal reversion of property to the state when its owner dies without heirs or when it has been abandoned.
The term appears mainly in legal and financial contexts: Dormant bank accounts may escheat to the state after several years.
As a verb, property escheats when it reverts this way.
The concept ensures unclaimed assets don't remain in limbo indefinitely.
Return to former state
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- intestateHaving made no will
- heirlessHaving no inheritor
- unclaimedNot yet taken
probate · inheritance · decedent · statutes · jurisdiction · administration · trusts · wills
Left behind completely
- unclaimedNot yet taken
- ownerlessHaving no possessor
- derelictAbandoned or neglectful
- dormantInactive but capable
vacant · lapsed · forfeited · confiscated · seized · reverted · reclaimed · recovered
Feudal territory under lord
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- demesneLord's private estate
fealty · suzerainty · overlord · homage · seigneur · lord · tenure · knight-service
One who receives legacy
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- beneficiaryDesignated asset receiver
- descendantPerson from earlier generations
- lineageDescent from progenitors
dynasty · intestacy · devolution · primogeniture · next of kin · birthright · disinheritance · testate
reversion
Return to former state
- forfeitureLoss due to breach
- intestateHaving made no will
- heirlessHaving no inheritor
unclaimed · probate · inheritance · decedent · statutes · jurisdiction · administration · trusts · wills · codicil
abandoned
Left behind completely
dormant · vacant · lapsed · forfeited · confiscated · seized · reverted · reclaimed · recovered · repossessed
fiefdom
Feudal territory under lord
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- liegeFeudal superior or subject
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
demesne · fealty · suzerainty · overlord · homage · seigneur · lord · tenure · knight-service · freehold
heir
One who receives legacy
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- beneficiaryDesignated asset receiver
- descendantPerson from earlier generations
lineage · dynasty · intestacy · devolution · primogeniture · next of kin · birthright · disinheritance · testate · bequest
- feudalismfief, vassal, fealty, homage, lord
- Medieval Englandking, kings, castle, castles, knight
- Medieval Feudalismmonarchy, fiefdom, manor, serfdom, vassalage
- inheritanceinheritance, inheritances, heir, heirs, heiress
- property transfertransfer of ownership, title, property transfer, lease, conveyance
- feudal rightsfealty, homage, vassalage, lordship, fief
escheatgrant
Bestow or award money
land grant · privatization · conveyance · bestowal · endowment