When property goes to the state because the owner has died intestate and has no heirs, what is this process known as?

The process where property goes to the state when an owner has died intestate (without a will) and has no legal heirs is known as escheat. This legal concept is based on the principle that the state has a right to claim ownership of property if there are no claimants or heirs to inherit that property. Escheat serves to ensure that property does not remain ownerless and that it can be utilized by the state for public purposes.

In contrast, the other terms relate to different legal processes. Succession typically refers to the process of inheriting property under a will or through laws of descent when someone dies with heirs. Abatement often pertains to a reduction in the value of an estate or can also refer to a legal procedure regarding the distribution of an estate when there are insufficient assets. Probate is the legal process of validating a will and administering the deceased's estate in accordance with its terms. Thus, while these terms may relate to the broader context of property transfer and inheritance, escheat specifically addresses the situation where the state takes ownership due to the absence of heirs.