What happens to the ownership of property when an owner dies without a will or heirs?

When an owner dies without a will or heirs, the concept of escheat comes into play. Escheat is a legal process whereby the state takes ownership of property that has no identifiable heirs. Essentially, if an individual passes away and leaves no will (intestate) and no surviving relatives to inherit their property, the government steps in to claim the property. This mechanism is in place to ensure that property does not remain in limbo, thus allowing the state to manage the property or put it to public use.

The other terms, while related to estate management, do not accurately describe the specific scenario of property ownership upon the death of an owner without a will or heirs. Succession generally refers to the process of inheriting property and rights according to a will or intestate laws. Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, which includes validating a will if one exists and overseeing the distribution of the estate. Distribution pertains to the process of dividing inheritable assets among heirs, which cannot occur without legal heirs present.

Hence, escheat is the process that correctly identifies the transition of ownership in such instances.