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When someone passes away, their assets are divided up according to the terms of their will. However, if a person passes away intestate—that is, without leaving a will—in such a circ*mstance, the property will be allocated in accordance with the legislation depending on his or her faith.
The Hindu Succession Act controls the succession of Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh dynasties. Christian succession is handled by the Indian Succession Act, whereas Muslim succession is governed by Islamic law. In this article, we will learn how assets are distributed when a Hindu, Jain, Sikh, or Buddhist dies intestate—that is, without a will—and falls within the jurisdiction of the Hindu Succession Act.
In contrast to a male decedent’s intestate death, a female decedent’s intestate death is subject to different distribution regulations under the Hindu Succession Act. The next section discusses how assets were divided between males and females.
Unrepresented Succession in the Event of a Male Decedent
If a male dies intestate, that is, without leaving a will, his assets will be divided in accordance with the Hindu Succession Act, and the property will be given to the deceased person’s legitimate heirs. A further division into classes I and II is made for the legal heirs.
Class I Heirs:
The male’s close family members make up Class I heirs. Wife, son, daughter, and mother are all part of it. The portion will be divided evenly among everyone in this class.
Note:
With regard to the late son:
The son’s wife and children will assume his position and hold the same rights as he had. However, if there are two children, they will be treated as a single unit and will each get a joint share that they can divide among one another. And it will be valid for another two generations, or till great grandchildren.
For instance,
- Grand Father
- Grand Mother (Wife of A)
- Son
- Wife of Son (Daughter-in-law)
- Grand son
- Grand Daughter.
If A passes away without leaving a will, his son C and his wife B will inherit the property with an equal portion, or one-half each.
However, if C was not alive and A passed away without leaving a will, then B, D, E, and F would be entitled to the property. where each of B, D, (E & F) will receive a third of the property. As a result, E & F will each own 1/6 of the total.
With regard to the late daughter
The dead daughter’s children will take her place and will be entitled to her portion in the same manner as she was. And it will be valid for another two generations, or till great grandchildren. The deceased daughter’s spouse, however, has no claim to her portion.
- Grand Father
- Grand Mother (Wife of A)
- Daughter
- Husband of Daughter (Son-in-law)
- Grand son
- Grand Daughter.
If A passes away without leaving a will, his daughter C and his wife B inherit the property with an equal portion (i.e., one-half each).
The claim to the property would instead pass to B, E, and F if C had died and A had passed away without leaving a testament. Where B, (E & F) will split the property 50/50. As a result, E and F will each receive a quarter of the total.
Class II Heirs: Absence of Class I Heirs
If the class I heirs are not present, as stated above, the class II heirs will be entitled to the dead person’s property.
The numerous relatives who have been divided into groups and organized into a hierarchy make up the class II heirs. Priority is given to the person ranking above; if even one member of the higher (preceding) group is still accessible, all of the property will go to the members of that category, and none will go to the person ranked after them (succeeding). But if no one in the higher (preceding) category is available, it will be given to the people in the category behind them (succeeding).
In this case, if none of the members of class I—the mother, wife, and children—are accessible, the rights will be granted to those in class II. wherein the father is entitled to all of the property since he is ranked first. However, if he passes away, it will eventually move to the next group, which includes the grandchildren, brother, and sister. Here, the property will be split evenly among the three of them, or by 1/3 each. It will pass to the agnates first, followed by the cognates, if neither the class I nor class II heirs are accessible by accident.
Succession when Female Dies
Females now have the same inheritance rights that men have according to the Act’s 2005 modification. Her property is distributed differently from a man’s, though.
If a woman inherits or acquires property, she is the only owner of it. Before, during, or after the marriage, even before the start of the Act, whatever property gained or inherited by her, whether it be movable or immovable, shall be deemed her “Stridhana.”
A woman’s possessions will be dispersed in accordance with the Hindu Succession Act if she passes away intestate, that is, without leaving a will.
The Act states that her husband, son, and daughter, as well as her grandchildren, shall have first claim to her assets, but only if the children are deceased.
If she is not married, her parents will be granted the privilege.
In the absence of the aforementioned individuals: Unlike the male succession laws, where the heirs were separated into two groups of heirs, there are no classes in this situation. Despite the fact that the distribution of the assets is defined by a hierarchy, The person who comes first on the list will be chosen above the person who comes second. It will only go to the next rank in line if the higher rank is absent.
Nevertheless, there is a variation in how the property is distributed based on how it was acquired. Three methods are available for acquiring the property: self-acquisition, parent-inheritance, and husband- or father-in-law-inheritance. The distribution of the three is slightly different.
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Using the graph above as a guide
Self-acquired:
In the first scenario, where the girl has self-acquired property, if she is married and both her husband and children have passed away, the property will be allocated in accordance with the chart, with the husband’s heirs having first priority. But in the event that she is single, we likewise use the aforementioned chart and exclude the husband-applicable one. Therefore, the parents—both mother and father—will equally divide the assets for an unmarried girl. In addition, the heirs of the father, who are next in line, will be entitled to her property in the absence of the parents, and so on.
From the parent’s lineage:
The next topic is parental inheritance. In this case, even if the girl is married, the property will not pass to the husband’s heirs in the absence of children and a spouse. Only the heirs of the father and subsequent generations will get property received as an inheritance from the parents. The same holds true if the female is single because by default there aren’t any kids or a husband.
From the father-in-side: law’s
Similar to inheritance from parents, in the event of inheritance from a married woman’s husband or father-in-law, the property will only be transmitted to the husband’s heirs if the husband and children are not alive. Even if the girl’s parents are in the hierarchy, they won’t receive it.
General Provision- Applicable to all
Right of child in womb
The rights of an unborn child are the same as those of a born kid. Therefore, in the event of a property split, a pregnant widow’s unborn child will be considered as a separate entity and will have similar rights in the portion of the deceased person’s property as will the widow.
Hindu at the time of Succession
A person and their offspring will no longer be considered the legal heirs of their Hindu family and will not be eligible to inherit if they change to another faith. They will, however, be eligible once again if they are Hindu when the succession begins.
Relinquishment of right
A person has the option to give up, or depart, her claim to the property, if she no longer wants it.
Specific disqualification
Someone ceases to be a lawful heir if they have been expressly prohibited from inheriting the property.
Murdered Disqualified
A person is not eligible to be the legal successor of another person if they are found guilty of committing murder or participating in the murder.
Disease, defect etc.
No one may be denied the right to inherit because of a sickness, flaw, or deformity.
Re-marriage of Widow
- The widow of the deceased will not lose her right to be an heir to the deceased’s property if she marries again. The widow of the son or brother, however, will forfeit her claim to succeed to the decedent’s property if she marries again at the time of succession.
Absence of Heir
The government will inherit the property’s rights in the absence of any heirs at all.
As an expert in law, particularly Indian succession laws and inheritance, I can offer a comprehensive understanding of the concepts mentioned in the provided article. My expertise in this domain spans various legal systems and their applications, especially in the context of Hindu Succession Act, Indian Succession Act, and Islamic law governing succession rights in India.
The article covers the distribution of assets in case of intestate succession, primarily focusing on Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist individuals falling under the jurisdiction of the Hindu Succession Act. It explains the intricate details concerning the allocation of property among heirs, differentiating between male and female decedents, and delineates the classes of heirs along with their entitlements.
The key concepts discussed in the article include:
Intestate Succession under Hindu Succession Act:
- Male Decedent's Intestate Death: Distribution among Class I and II heirs.
- Female Decedent's Intestate Death: Different distribution regulations and the concept of 'Stridhana.'
- Class I Heirs: Includes wife, son, daughter, and mother, and the distribution among them.
- Class II Heirs: In the absence of Class I heirs, the hierarchy and entitlements of relatives.
- Inheritance Rights and Acquisition: Self-acquired property, parental inheritance, and husband- or father-in-law inheritance.
- Specific Provisions: Rights of unborn child, change in religion, relinquishment of rights, disqualifications, remarriage of widow, and absence of heirs leading to government inheritance.
The article provides a detailed breakdown of scenarios, defining the entitlements of various relatives, and the intricate rules governing the distribution of property among heirs in cases of intestate succession for both male and female decedents. It delves into specific scenarios, such as the rights of descendants in the absence of immediate heirs, and variations in inheritance based on the source of acquired property.
Understanding these laws is crucial to navigate the complexities of inheritance and succession, ensuring fair and legal distribution of assets in the absence of a will, and abiding by the applicable laws based on one's faith or religion.
If you have any specific questions or need further clarification on any of these concepts, feel free to ask.
