What is the term for the forfeiture of a deceased person's property to the state in the absence of heirs?

The term for the forfeiture of a deceased person's property to the state when there are no legal heirs is known as "escheat." This legal process ensures that property does not remain ownerless or abandoned but instead reverts to the state. Escheat is often invoked when an individual dies intestate (without a will) and there are no identifiable relatives or heirs to inherit the estate.

In contrast, "estate" refers to the total sum of a person's assets and liabilities at the time of their death, encompassing all property, debts, and rights. "Endorsement" is a term more commonly associated with signing something to authenticate or approve it, particularly in financial transactions. "Execution," in legal terms, usually pertains to the enforcement of a court judgment or carrying out the terms of a will, rather than dealing with the redistribution of property when no heirs exist. Thus, the correct choice distinctly addresses the specific situation of property escheating to the state due to a lack of heirs.