Inheritance Law

Inheritance concerns the transfer of a deceased person's estate, including assets and debts, to heirs upon death or a declaration of presumed death. Inheritance rights arising after death are distributed under inheritance law where there is no valid will.

1. The court at the deceased's last place of residence has territorial jurisdiction over the following proceedings:

• Claims concerning division of the estate, invalidity of an estate division agreement, annulment and reduction of testamentary dispositions, recovery of inheritance, and disputes between heirs concerning administration of the estate.
• Claims brought against heirs before the estate has been finally divided.

2. A claim to recover an asset within the estate may also be brought where the asset was located when the estate was inventoried and identified.

3. Proceedings for cancellation of a certificate of inheritance and the issue of a new certificate may also be brought at the place of residence of any heir.

The Civil Court of First Instance has subject-matter jurisdiction over inheritance proceedings.