Escheat is a law doctrine that operates to ensure that property is not left in limbo and ownerless. The term is applied to the transfer of the title to a person's property to the state when the person dies intestate without any other person capable of taking the property as heir.

Escheat may occur when an entity (bank) holds money or property (account at the same bank) and the property goes unclaimed. In many jurisdictions, if the owner cannot be located, such property can be revocably escheated to the government.

For example, When someone dies without a will, and is not survived by a spouse, descendants, parents, grandparents, descendants of parents, children or grandchildren of grandparents, or great-grandchildren of grandparents, then the person's estate will be taken by the state.