When a person dies, their estate is usually passed on to their heirs. An heir is a person who is legally entitled to inherit someone's property after they die. Heirs are typically family members, but can also be friends or other individuals who have been designated in the deceased person's will.
If the deceased person did not leave a will, their estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession. Intestate succession laws vary from state to state, but typically give preference to spouses and blood relatives. For example, in California, if a person dies without a will, their spouse will inherit all of their property if they have no children. If the deceased person does have children, the spouse will inherit half of the property and the children will inherit the other half.
It's important to note that heirs are only entitled to inherited property - they are not responsible for any debts or liabilities that the deceased person may have had. So, if you're an heir inheriting someone's house, you won't also be responsible for paying off their mortgage or any other debts associated with the property. However, you may be responsible for paying inheritance taxes on your newfound assets.