Vacant succession
Definition
An estate that has no heirs, because they either do not exist or have renounced the estate. A vacant estate may escheat back to the state.
Illustrative caselaw
See, e.g. Simmons v. Saul, 138 U.S. 439 (1891).
See also
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
Succession that occurs when there are no known heirs for an estate to pass to. In vacant succession, the estate may escheat to the state.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:26 pm