nonheirs

Nonheirs are individuals who do not have a legal right to inherit property under the rules that govern an estate. The term is often used to distinguish people who are not in the class of heirs entitled to receive property by intestate succession or by the terms of a will or trust. Being a nonheir does not require any action; it reflects the outcome of applicable law and instrument provisions, such as a will that excludes a person or an absence of statutory eligibility.

In most jurisdictions, heirs at law are defined by statute and typically include close relatives and, in some cases, a surviving spouse. Distant relatives, friends, employees, or charitable organizations may fall outside the statutory heir class and may be nonheirs if the deceased leaves no will naming them as beneficiaries. A will or trust can designate nonheirs as beneficiaries or explicitly exclude certain individuals; the nonheir status is a default that can be altered by the governing instrument.

Legal relevance includes potential challenges: a disinherited person may contest a will on grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence, or improper execution; in some systems, surviving spouses or statutory heirs may have rights to a forced share or elective portion despite being labeled nonheirs in a will. The precise definition and consequences of nonheir status depend on jurisdiction and the estate planning instruments used.

See also: heirs at law, intestate succession, beneficiaries, wills and trusts.