arvinger

Arvinger is a term used in inheritance law to refer to people who stand to receive part of a deceased person’s estate. An arving can obtain a share either by operation of law, in cases where there is no will (intestate succession), or through a will or trust that designates beneficiaries.

There are two main categories of arvinger: legal (statutory) heirs and testamentary heirs. Legal heirs inherit according to statutory rules set by the jurisdiction, while testamentary heirs are those named in a will or through a trust. In many systems these categories can overlap if a will designates someone who would also be an heir under the law.

Order of succession varies by jurisdiction but typically follows a hierarchical approach. The surviving spouse or partner and descendants are often the first in line, followed by other relatives such as parents, siblings, and more distant kin. If no heirs can be found, the estate may escheat to the state or a public treasury.

Distribution methods among arvinger can differ. Shares may be allocated equally or by representation, such as per stirpes, where the portion of a deceased heir passes to their descendants. Recognition of relationships like adoption or step-relations varies by system, with some jurisdictions treating adopted children as equivalent to biological children for inheritance purposes.

In practice, heirs may be responsible for estate debts up to the value of the inherited property, and a will may attempt to limit or exclude certain heirs, subject to legal protections that in many places guarantee reserved rights for close relatives.