Inheritance Law and Social Inequality (Erfenissen En Sociale Ongelijkheid - Dutch)

Knack Extra, March 2, 2011

4 Pages Posted: 10 Mar 2011

See all articles by Alain-Laurent Verbeke

Alain-Laurent Verbeke

KU Leuven - Faculty of Law; Harvard Law School; KU Leuven - Faculty of Psychology; Tilburg Law School

Date Written: March 2, 2011

Abstract

In this interview I comment, together with philosopher Koen Raes, on the social inequality that may arise because of the existing rules of inheritance law. I argue that the blood relationship is too strong to abolish this as a basic principle for inheritance law. However this is only valid for family property, passing through generations. For the modern concept of partner property, established by a couple, like a husband and wife, or a same sex couple, that estate should go to the partner, hence reducing the blood claim. I also argue that forced heirship rules are only acceptable for family property, but not for partner property. Eventually, imperative rules on partner property, must be introduced at the level of marital property law (eg equitable distribution rules), but not at the level of inheritance law.

Note: Downloadable document is in Dutch.

Keywords: Inheritance law, Marital Property Law, Social Inequality

JEL Classification: K11, K12

Suggested Citation

Verbeke, Alain-Laurent P. G., Inheritance Law and Social Inequality (Erfenissen En Sociale Ongelijkheid - Dutch) (March 2, 2011). Knack Extra, March 2, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1781723

Alain-Laurent P. G. Verbeke (Contact Author)

KU Leuven - Faculty of Law ( email )

Tiensestraat 41
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium
003216325203 (Phone)
003216325296 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.kuleuven.be/fvr

Harvard Law School ( email )

PON | 1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Pound Hall 513
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
+16174967109 (Phone)
+16174968775 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.pon.harvard.edu/

KU Leuven - Faculty of Psychology ( email )

Tiensestraat 102
Leuven, 3000
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://ppw.kuleuven.be/english/wopp/leuven-center-for-collaborative-management

Tilburg Law School

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5037 AB
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/institutes-and-research-groups/tisco/

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