Legal inheritance refers to the process by which a person's assets and property are passed on to their heirs after their death. This process is governed by laws that vary by jurisdiction, determining who is entitled to inherit and how much they receive. Typically, these laws prioritize close relatives, such as spouses, children, and parents. In many cases, individuals can also create a will to specify their wishes regarding the distribution of their estate. If a will is not present, the estate is distributed according to the default laws of intestate succession, which outline the order of inheritance among relatives.