Air Apparent

Air Apparent is a legal and genealogical term, primarily used in British and Commonwealth law, referring to an heir whose right of inheritance is fixed and cannot be defeated by any contingency, provided they survive the ancestor. It's a position of definite succession, unlike an heir presumptive whose inheritance is subject to the birth of a closer heir.

Specifically, an heir apparent is a person who is certain to inherit property or a title if they outlive their ancestor, and there is no possibility of another heir being born who would supersede them. The clearest example is the eldest son of a monarch or peer under a system of primogeniture (inheritance by the eldest son). The eldest son is the heir apparent unless a male heir with a prior claim is born.

The key distinguishing factor between an heir apparent and other potential heirs is the certainty of their claim. The inheritance rights of an heir apparent are fixed as long as they outlive the person from whom they are set to inherit. This gives them a unique legal and social standing compared to other potential heirs, even if those other heirs are currently next in line.

The concept is less frequently used in modern law outside of monarchical and aristocratic inheritance due to the weakening of primogeniture rules in many jurisdictions. However, understanding the concept of an heir apparent provides insight into historical inheritance practices and legal systems.