What process allows the government to obtain property when a person dies leaving no will or heirs?

The process that allows the government to obtain property when a person dies without a will or heirs is known as escheat. Escheat occurs when an individual's estate is claimed by the state due to the absence of any legal claimants—typically when there are no designated beneficiaries in a will, and no legal heirs can be identified. The principle behind escheat is that the state has a responsibility to manage property that has no owner, preventing it from remaining in limbo and potentially unclaimed indefinitely.

In contrast, the other options mentioned serve different legal functions. A quiet title action is a court proceeding used to settle disputes over the ownership of a property, ensuring that the title is clear and can be transferred without contention. Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property for public use, with compensation provided to the owner, and it does not pertain to situations involving the death of a property owner without heirs. Lastly, police power involves the government's capacity to regulate behavior and enforce order within its territory, particularly concerning health, safety, and welfare, but does not relate to property ownership following death.

Understanding escheat is crucial in real estate and estate law, as it highlights the government’s role in property ownership and