In the laws of succession governing the English peerage, an heir presumptive is the person who stands next in line to an honor or title if the current holder were to die immediately. Unlike an heir apparent, whose right to succeed is indefeasible and cannot be annulled by any subsequent birth, the position of an heir presumptive is inherently contingent. The status remains valid only until a more senior heir—typically a direct legitimate child of the current holder—is born, thereby superseding the presumptive claimant in the line of succession under the principle of primogeniture.
Historically, this distinction was vital in managing the transmission of feudal lands and dignities held 'in fee' (to the holder and their heirs). In cases of titles limited to 'heirs male of the body,' a brother might serve as heir presumptive to his elder sibling, only to be displaced should the title-holder sire a legitimate son. This legal uncertainty often led to complex dynastic maneuvers and litigation in the Court of Chivalry, as the eventual devolution of the title remained subject to the biological realities of the incumbent's family.