There’s a difference between being a descendant and being an heir. Descendants of someone are their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. Heirs are typically those legally entitled to inherit real or personal property from someone.

If a person has never had children, then their heirs could be their siblings or children of their siblings. Their heirs could be their first cousins if the deceased person had no siblings.

If Riley had two children that survived him, Alberta and Barbara, and a child Charles who had died before Riley, then Albert, Barbara, and Charles’ children would be Riley’s heirs. Alberta and Barbara’s children would not be Riley’s heirs because their parents were still living. Alberta and Barbara’s children would still be Riley’s descendants.

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