illegitimate heir
Born outside wedlock
An illegitimate heir is someone who would inherit property or title but for being born outside marriage.
Historically, illegitimacy barred children from inheritance entirely, though modern laws in many jurisdictions have reduced or eliminated such distinctions.
The phrase appears in discussions of succession disputes, historical dynasties, and legal reforms: The duke's illegitimate heir challenged the will in court.
- bastardChild of unmarried parents
- born out of wedlockHaving unmarried parents
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- successionFollowing in order
- line of successionSequence of potential heirs
throne · claim · disinherited · bloodline · pretender · dark horse · disputed · crown · lineage · noble blood · usurper · rightful · dynasty · secret · family secret · scandal · royal scandal · nobleman
- family dramafamily bonds, sibling rivalry, family reunion, kinship, family secret
- heirsheirs, coheirs, beneficiary, beneficiaries, successor
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- inheritanceinheritances, heirs, bequest, bequests, beneficiary
illegitimate heirlegitimate heir
Lawfully entitled inheritor
rightful heir · legal heir · legitimate child · heir apparent · heir at law
illegitimate, heir, illegal, illegally, illegality, legitimate, legitimately, legitimacy, legitimize