What legal doctrine allows a decedent's property to pass to the state if they die without a will or known heirs?

The legal doctrine that permits a decedent's property to pass to the state when they die without a will or known heirs is known as escheat. This principle serves as a mechanism for handling property that has no identifiable owner. When someone passes away intestate—meaning they do not have a legally valid will— and there are no surviving heirs to claim the estate, the property is then transferred to the state under escheat laws. This process ensures that the property does not remain in a state of ownership uncertainty and is utilized by the government for public benefit.

While probate refers to the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, it does not directly relate to the transfer of property to the state. Intestate succession pertains to the distribution of property according to state laws when someone dies without a will, but it does not specifically address the situation of unclaimed property when there are no heirs. Distribution simply refers to the process by which an estate is allocated among beneficiaries or heirs, but again, does not deal with property that reverts to the state. Thus, escheat is the correct answer because it specifically applies to the scenario of unclaimed property resulting from an intestate death with no heirs.