heir presumptive

3 definitions found

heir presumptive - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Heir \Heir\ ([^a]r), n. [OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F.
     hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. Hereditary,
     Heritage.]
     1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the
        possession of, any property after the death of its owner;
        one on whom the law bestows the title or property of
        another at the death of the latter.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I am my father's heir and only son.   --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or
        relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And I his heir in misery alone.       --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Heir apparent. (Law.) See under Apparent.
  
     Heir at law, one who, after his ancector's death, has a
        right to inherit all his intestate estate. --Wharton (Law
        Dict.).
  
     Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die
        immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the
        inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer
        relative, or by some other contingency.
        [1913 Webster]

heir presumptive - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  heir presumptive
      n 1: a person who expects to inherit but whose right can be
           defeated by the birth of a nearer relative [ant: heir apparent
           ]

heir presumptive - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  HEIR PRESUMPTIVE. A presumptive heir is one who, in the present 
  circumstances, would be entitled to the inheritance, but whose rights may be 
  defeated by the contingency of some nearer heir being born. 2 B1 Com. 208. 
  In Louisiana, the presumptive heir is he who is the nearest relation of the 
  deceased, capable of inheriting. This quality is given to him before the 
  decease of the person from whom he is to inherit, as well as after the 
  opening of the succession, until he has accepted or renounced it. Civ. Code 
  of Lo. art. 876.