1. A government official responsible for managing or collecting property that reverts to the state when an owner dies without a will or legal heirs.
Usage: historical; legal; chiefly British

Examples

• The escheator took possession of the estate after the landowner died intestate.
• In medieval England, the escheator was an important royal official who handled unclaimed lands.
• The escheator's duties included investigating claims to property and determining rightful heirs.
• Modern state governments have replaced the traditional escheator with unclaimed property divisions.
• The escheator maintained detailed records of all escheat proceedings.