Escheat, ehs CHEET, is the turning over of property to the state when no owner claims it. Such a right may be exercised by the state when a person dies without a will or when the person has no spouse or other relative to be the heir. In this case, the estate reverts to the state. In some states, bank deposits and bank dividends which have been unclaimed for a certain period may escheat to the state. See also Estate.