Can a family member inherit a person's membership in a non-profit housing co-op after they die?

Not in the way real property passes through an estate. A co-op membership is generally personal to the member and tied to their individual approval by the co-op, so it doesn't automatically transfer to an heir or beneficiary the way a house or condo would under a will or on intestacy. When a member dies, the co-op's bylaws typically govern what happens next, and the estate is usually entitled to have the original membership share or deposit returned, similar to what would happen if the member had simply left the co-op voluntarily.

That said, many co-ops' bylaws address the situation of a surviving spouse, partner, or other household member who was already living in the unit, allowing that person to apply for their own membership going forward, subject to the co-op's usual approval process rather than an automatic inheritance. This means continued occupancy after a member's death typically depends on a fresh application and approval, not on estate law. An estate trustee or family member dealing with a deceased person's co-op unit should contact the co-op promptly to understand its specific bylaw provisions, since assuming the unit can simply be inherited and occupied can lead to real complications.