Word needed

[Jean-Joseph Cote]

Hutch writes:
> I did not inherit anything when any of them (currently deceased)
> died and will not inherit anything when my father dies. ('Cause
> he doesn't have anything to leave me :)

Au contraire.  I bet you will inherit the white stripe in the middle of
your beard.  Which is probably why you finally shaved it a few years ago.
 And that's interesting, because it means you can inherit it while he's
still alive.  You can inherit characteristics from someone who isn't
dead.  Are you still considered an "heir" with respect to those
characteristics?

(And you can always inherit debts... that makes "benefactor" a
particularly bad choice of words...)

Jean-Joseph