Question
nnnnCharles died intestate and left a $60,000 estate but no heirs. His estate would:
nnnnSelections
nnnnA. Revert to the state
nnnnB. Escheat to the county
nnnnC. Be held for five years by the state and then revert to the county
nnnnD. Be given to a charitable organization
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Answer: A
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5 Keys Summary
nnnn• When an individual dies intestate (without a valid will) and without legal heirs, the disposition of their property is governed by a legal process called escheat.
nnnn• Escheat is the legal procedure by which property title vests in the state when an owner dies leaving no will or heirs.
nnnn• In this scenario, the estate would legally revert to the State of California, confirming that the property belongs to the state.
nnnn• The purpose of escheat is to ensure that all property always maintains an owner, transferring to the government when private succession fails.
nnnn• The property reverts specifically to the state government, and not to the county or a charitable organization.
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