What is the term for the forfeiture of a decedent's property to the state in the absence of heirs?

The term that describes the forfeiture of a decedent's property to the state when there are no heirs is known as "escheat." This legal principle ensures that property does not remain unclaimed or abandoned after an individual passes away. Instead, the state takes possession of the property, allowing for its responsible management and potential reallocation.

Escheat serves as a mechanism to maintain the utilization of land and resources within the community and the state rather than allowing it to become stagnant or fall into a state of neglect. This concept is part of property law and has historical roots that reflect societal interests in managing unclaimed property to benefit the public good.

Other terms in the given choices describe different legal concepts: "reversion" refers to the return of property to the original grantor or their heirs upon the end of a particular estate, "joint tenant" pertains to a form of property co-ownership where two or more persons hold equal shares, and "dominant estate" relates to land that enjoys an easement over another parcel of land, called the servient estate. Each of these terms plays a distinct role in property law but does not apply to the situation where property is transferred to the state upon the absence of heirs.