An heir is a person entitled to inherit from someone who died without a valid will, under California’s rules for who inherits in that situation. This is different from a beneficiary, who is specifically named in a will or trust — an heir’s right to inherit comes from their relationship to the decedent (spouse, child, parent, and so on) as defined by law, not from being named in a document.
Why it matters
People sometimes use “heir” loosely to mean anyone who stands to inherit, including someone named in a will. That’s fine in everyday conversation, but the legal distinction matters in probate paperwork — it can affect who has standing to act, receive notices, or object to a proposed action. If you’re not sure whether you’re an heir, a beneficiary, or both in a particular estate, your probate attorney can clarify based on the actual documents and family relationships involved.
General California probate and trust real-estate education. Not legal, tax, title, appraisal, or court advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation.