Michigan Salesperson PSI Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Achieve Exam Success!

When someone dies without a will and there are no heirs to inherit the property, there’s no one left to claim it. The law provides that the property reverts to the state in this situation—that transfer is called escheat. Escheat ensures property isn’t left ownerless and keeps it within the state system for potential resale or use.

This differs from abandonment (voluntarily leaving property behind), devise (a transfer of property by a will), and abatement (reducing gifts in a will due to insufficient assets). Escheat specifically describes the state taking ownership when there are no heirs or will to transfer the property.