What is an heir?

An heir is a person legally entitled to inherit from someone who dies, typically a close relative like a spouse, child, or parent. When there's no will, state intestacy laws decide who the heirs are and what they receive. The term is slightly different from a beneficiary, who is anyone you specifically name to inherit through a will, trust, or account. So all beneficiaries are people you chose, but heirs are determined by family relationship and law.