What is the legal term for the process by which a property owner dies without a will or heirs?

The legal term for the process by which a property owner dies without a will or heirs is escheat. When an individual dies intestate (without a will) and there are no identifiable heirs to inherit their property, the property is transferred to the state or local government. This concept is grounded in the idea that property cannot remain ownerless and must ultimately be assigned to someone for the sake of public order and government control.

Escheat serves a crucial purpose in property law, ensuring that real estate and assets do not remain unclaimed indefinitely. The process varies by jurisdiction, but generally, the government will take the property and may eventually sell it or repurpose it for public use.

In understanding why this answer is the most suitable, one can see that the other options represent different legal processes. Foreclosure relates to the process by which a lender takes control of a property due to the owner's failure to make mortgage payments. Probate, on the other hand, refers to the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, which occurs if there is a will. An injunction is a court order requiring a person to do or cease doing a specific action. These terms do not apply to the situation described in the question, confirming that escheat is the correct