Legal Definitions - coheir

A coheir is a person who, along with one or more others, inherits property from a deceased person. In common-law jurisdictions, a coheir can inherit real or personal property, whether by will or by intestate succession. In civil law, a coheir is a person who succeeds to the rights and occupies the place of, or is entitled to succeed to the estate of, a decedent, whether by an act of the decedent or by operation of law.

Example: John and Jane are siblings. When their father dies, they both inherit his house as coheirs. They each have an equal share in the property.

Explanation: In this example, John and Jane are coheirs because they both inherit the property from their father. As coheirs, they have an equal share in the property.