Where property is returned to the government upon the death of the owner, because there is nobody to inherit the property. Escheat is based on the Latin principle of dominion directum as was often used in the feudal system when a tenant died without hiers or if the tenant was convicted of a felony .
ESCHEAT
Meaning of ESCHEAT in English
Duhaime's Law English dictionary. Английский юридический словарь Duhaime . 2012