Legal Definitions - bodily heir

Definition: A person who is entitled to inherit property from a deceased person according to the laws of intestacy. This person is a lineal descendant of the deceased, excluding a surviving spouse, adopted children, and collateral relations.

Example: John dies without a will. His son, Tom, is his bodily heir and is entitled to inherit his property according to the laws of intestacy.

This example illustrates how a person can become a bodily heir when someone dies without a will. In this case, John's son, Tom, is his lineal descendant and is entitled to inherit his property.