heir apparent

Heir apparent is an heir who is certain or guaranteed to inherit property from an estate. The right of an heir apparent is indefeasible and they can only be denied a right to inheritance if they were to die before the person they were supposed to inherit from, or if they are legally and excluded by a legitimate will. 

[Last reviewed in February of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• PROPERTY
• trusts
• inheritances & estates
• wex definitions
• property law