An individual who dies without any legal heirs is classified as what?

When an individual dies without any legal heirs, they are referred to as being intestate. This legal term specifically describes a situation where someone passes away without having a valid will in place to dictate the distribution of their estate. In this context, even though the individual had no legal heirs, the term "intestate" applies because it pertains to the absence of a will rather than the absence of heirs themselves.

Understanding the term "intestate" is crucial in legal contexts because it carries implications for how the deceased's assets will be handled. Without an estate plan, state laws will determine how the deceased's assets are distributed, typically through intestacy laws.

The other terms such as "heirless," "decedent," and "estate-less" do not accurately capture the legal significance tied to the lack of a will. "Heirless" is not a standard legal term, "decedent" simply refers to any deceased individual without context about their estate planning status, and "estate-less" is not recognized in legal terminology related to inheritance and estate law.