Define: Heirdom

Heirdom refers to the legal process of inheriting property or assets from a deceased person, typically through a will or intestate succession laws.

Heirdom and inheritance are often used interchangeably, but heirdom specifically refers to the act of inheriting property or assets through familial ties, while inheritance can also include non-familial beneficiaries.

An heir is typically a person who is legally entitled to inherit property or assets from a deceased person based on their relationship to the deceased, such as a spouse, child, or other close family member.

In certain circumstances, a person can be disinherited from heirdom if the deceased explicitly states their intention to exclude them from their will or if they have legally valid reasons to disinherit a particular individual.

If there is no will in place, the distribution of the deceased person’s property and assets will be determined by the intestate succession laws of the jurisdiction in which they resided. These laws typically prioritize close family members as heirs.

Yes, a will can be contested in heirdom cases if there are valid grounds to believe that the will is invalid, such as undue influence, lack of capacity, or fraud. Contesting a will requires legal proceedings and evidence to support the claim.

Yes, a person can generally choose who their heirs will be by creating a legally valid will. This allows them to specify how their property and assets should be distributed after their death.

Disinheriting a spouse can be more challenging than disinheriting other family members. In some jurisdictions, spouses have legal rights to a portion of the deceased’s estate, even if they are not explicitly named as an heir in the will.

Yes, a person can change their heirs after creating a will by executing a new will or by making amendments to their existing will through a codicil. It is important to follow the legal requirements for making changes to a will to ensure its validity.

If disputes arise among multiple heirs, it is advisable to seek legal counsel to resolve the matter. Mediation or litigation may be necessary to determine the rightful distribution of the deceased person’s property and assets.