What legal concept allows property to revert to the government if a decedent dies without heirs?

The legal concept that permits property to revert to the government when a decedent dies without heirs is known as escheat. This principle arises from the idea that if an individual dies intestate (without a will) and has no legal heirs to inherit the property, the state has an interest in that property.

The process of escheat ensures that unclaimed property does not remain ownerless and that it reverts to public ownership. This enables the government to manage such assets and use them for the benefit of the public. Escheatment reflects the government's role in property law where it safeguards the proper distribution of property interests within its jurisdiction.

In contrast, encroachment refers to the unlawful intrusion of one person's property onto another's, adverse possession involves acquiring property rights through continuous and open possession over a statutory period, and preemption relates to the right of a government or authority to seize lands or properties under certain conditions. Understanding these distinctions is essential in grasping property law and related legal concepts.