Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Inheritance and succession (Islamic law)'

Doctor Legum - LLD
South African Muslims constitute a religious minority group that is subject to dual legal systems. In the public sphere they are bound by South African law whereas in the private sphere are duty bound in terms of their religion to follow Islamic law. Muslims are required, in terms of their religion, to ensure that their estates devolve in terms of the Islamic law of succession. A son inherits double the share of a daughter in terms of the Islamic law of intestate succession. This unequal distribution of shares has led to a premise that the Islamic law of intestate succession discriminates against females. The South African Constitution strongly promotes the right to equality and non-discrimination. There is therefore a serious need to investigate the fairness of the Islamic law of intestate succession within the context of South African law. This is in the interest of a religious minority group who have been in South Africa since 1654.

The inevitability of the death of all property owners means that the redistribution of property at death is a basic function of the law of succession. In the systems that recognise testamentary freedom (including South Africa), the right to distribute property after death is considered as a natural extension of the entitlements that an owner enjoys while alive. Testamentary freedom is an age-old common law principle that has formed part of our law since time immemorial. This right vests in individual owners, and courts (and functionaries of the state) are obliged to give effect to the clear intentions of testators as expressed in their wills. Ownership therefore forms the basis of the right to make testamentary disposals that become enforceable after death. In this way, a primary role of testate succession law is to extend the rights of owners after death. The question this thesis seeks to answer is whether the common law right to dispose of property after death is a constitutionally protected property right in light of constitutional commitments to redistribution, restitution and historical redress. This involves an interpretation of the nature, purpose and scope of section 25 of the Constitution in the context of the common law of testate succession. In this thesis, I critique the academic and judicial view that ownership is central to the constitutional protection of the common law principle of freedom of testation. I argue that the current interpretation of the property clause represents a one-dimensional view of property rights that ignores accepted constitutional property jurisprudence of the interpretive approach to the property clause, including its dual purpose in protecting as well as transforming property relations and the emphasis on our historical context of past discrimination. In essence, my thesis is a critical evaluation of the nature and scope of testamentary freedom for the purposes of justifying the redistribution of wealth and property at death. My ultimate goal is to show that the redistribution of property through inheritance law is politically and constitutionally justified.

In South Africa, it is evident that women are uniformed of their essential human rights, especially their inheritance and succession rights, including protection of such rights. Human rights are international norms that protect individuals everywhere from the states’ political, legal and social abuse. Human rights are entitlements which human beings have in order to enhance their human condition. They are the fundamental entitlements or minimum standards to be met for individual so that they live with dignity. This study focused on discrimination of women under customary law in South Africa with reference to inheritance and succession. The study validated the findings of other researchers on the impact of cultural practices on women’s rights to inheritance and succession. In addition the findings revealed that efforts t eliminate traditional practices, should foremost come from men and from communities that hold such destructive attitudes towards women. The outcomes and recommendations of this study would assist the government and other institutions to adopt effective measures to empower women and especially educate them so that they can assert and defend their human rights

Magister Legum - LLM
As a Muslim south African trained in South African Roman-Dutch law, I have been exposed to experiences/situations which indicate a conflict between the principles of South African Roman-Dutch law and Islamic law of succession. This has prompted me to do some research into the history of Islamic law, the spreading of Islamic law over large parts of the world and the question of the recognition and application of Islamic law in South Africa. The central theme of this study is the Islamic law of succession in so far as it affects women. Chapter One of my dissertation contains a brief historical background which outlines on the one hand, the nomadic society, women and succession in pre-Islamic Arabia and on the other, their improved position upon the advent of Islam {seventh century) . It ends with the historical background of Muslims in South Africa. Chapter Two is devoted to the marriage property background against which both the South African and Islamic law of succession operate. Thereafter, in Chapter Three, the South African law and Islamic law (substantive rules} of succession are compared. These include both intestate and testamentary succession, the latter being limited on the Islamic side. Chapter Four, with the backgrounds sketched in Chapters Two and Three, demonstrates the visible internal conflicts between the Islamic and South African law of marriage and succession as encountered in South African practice. After evaluating statistics and alternative solutions in this regard, and having arrived at certain conclusions, I propose that recommendations about the possible recognition and application of Muslim Personal Law in South Africa which is at present enjoying the attention of the South African Law Commission in Project 59 should see fruition and be implemented as it can only assist the society in closer inspection are riddled with controversies. Chapter Six explores the treatment received by a Muslim widow, daughter and mother in terms of their respective fixed "intestate" shares and its implications for modern twentieth century society. which we live since it is a vital aspect affecting our daily lives {and deaths!). Chapter Five covers the whole aspect of the Muslim testator or testatrix' s limited "freedom" of testation and reforms by certain forerunner countries in this regard which on closer inspection are riddled with controversies. Chapter Six explores the treatment received by a Muslim widow, daughter and mother in terms of their respective fixed "intestate" shares and its implications for modern twentieth century society.

The practice of Iraq and Kuwait in treaty succession has significantly contributed to the development of the concept of state succession not only in Islamic law but also in international law; a contribution which advocates the paramount importance of distinguishing between succession in fact and succession in law. Greatest attention is given to the latter in this study which is divided into the following four parts: Part 1. Survey of the development of the concept of succession in fact under Islamic law and throughout the practice of the Islamic State until the advent of the latter's territorial disintegration into many political entities, whereby various Arab territories developed independent factual identities. The practice of Iraq and Kuwait have been selected from among these entities in order to examine the maturity of certain Islamic legal rules governing succession in fact, upon which the rules governing succession in law are based. The second, third and fourth parts of this treatise survey the development of the concept of succession in law under Islamic law and its relationship to international law through five stages. A. Outline of the Islamic legacy in treaty succession according to the primary sources of Islamic law. B. Analysis of the selective practice of two of the evolving Arab states, namely Iraq and Kuwait, in order to throw some light on the application of the primary sources of Islamic law to treaty succession and the resort to principles embodied in the secondary sources where no provision is found in the former. This will help to explain the practice of these states with regard to certain controversial matters where no precedent existed. C. Study of the concept of state succession in Islamic legal theory from which the Iraqi doctrine of devolution and the Kuwaiti doctrine of non-devolution evolved. (A, B and C constitute part 2). D. (Part 3) The adoption of the Iraqi and Kuwaiti legal doctrines on treaty succession by other Arab political entities and the resulting evolution of Arabic public law. E. (Part 4) Interaction between principles and doctrines that have evolved from the secondary sources of Islamic law, such as Arabic public law, on treaty succession and international law by means of the codification process through the work of the U.N.I.L.C. and the 1978 Vienna Convention on State Succession in Respect of Treaties in which the Arab states made an important contribution to the development of the international legal order. This contribution will be further substantiated in the conclusions.

Analysing the financial fate of the surviving spouse in French and Ontario law reveals him or her to be both a partner and an heir. The patrimonial union between the spouses is indeed a partnership which is terminated by the death of one spouse. Moreover, marriage introduces each spouse into his or her partner's family for the purposes of succession. The dual character of status of the surviving spouse is the basis of the argument, advanced in this thesis, that this duality represents an important commonality between the French and Ontario legal systems, notwithstanding the disparities between the two. One of these disparities is the surviving spouse's obligation, in Ontario, to choose between his or her matrimonial and inheritance rights, except when the deceased has expressly provided that he or she would not have to make this choice. Thus, while French law permits the surviving spouse to deduct the amount of his or her inheritance portion from the deceased's assets, even once the financial benefits of the marital partnership have been apportioned, Ontario law seems to be unable to distinguish between the partition of the marital partnership and the deceased's succession. After examining, in particular, the surviving spouse's rights pursuant to mandatory and suppletive rules of law, from the twin perspectives of spouse and heir, the thesis explores some examples of the tools used by spouses for estate planning. In particular, marriage contracts and life-insurance can dramatically affect, for better or worse, the fate of the surviving spouse.

The study looks at the main features of African indigenous law of succession and inheritance in Zimbabwe. It draws a distinction between the forms of inheritance practised between the two major ethnic groups, the Shona and the Ndebele. Whilst the research was mainly aimed at these two groups an investigation into inheritance practice by the South African Zulu and Xhosa counterparts was also made. An investigation into the impact of western influence on succession and inheritance was made taking a look at colonial legislation and case law, the general deduction being that it was a vehicle for attaching customary law to a western type law. After independence there was the issue of the impact of constitutionalism and international human rights law on succession in post colonial Zimbabwe. These were tools for change by bringing in notions of equality between men and women, issues that were highlighted in the cornerstone case of Magaya v Magaya, which was in turn discussed in the light of the Mthemu v Letsela and Bhe trilogy of cases in South Africa. In the final chapter there is a discussion of possibilities of reform and the future of customary law in Zimbabwe the highlight here being conducting proper legal research to ascertain the true purpose of custom.

Thesis (LLD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Freedom of testation is one of the underlying principles of the South African law of testate succession. South African testators may therefore dispose of their assets by way of will in any manner they deem fit. This freedom is however not absolute and is indeed restricted in accordance with certain social and economic considerations - some of the restrictions on free testamentary disposition originated at common law while others are couched in the form of statute. The boni mores or legal convictions of the community is one of the socially founded mechanisms which operate to limit freedom of testation in South African law. The South African legislature as well as the South African courts have however been somewhat remiss in attending to (and rejuvinating) the legal position regarding the restriction of freedom of testation in terms of the boni mores. The need for legal development in this area is all the more acute in view of South Africa's new constitutional dispensation - the interpretation and application of South Africa's final Constitution has rendered the influence of constitutional rights and principles on private law (and therefore also on freedom of testation) a pertinent legal issue. In view of the above-mentioned considerations, this work entails a general study of freedom of testation with specific reference to the application of a constitutionally founded boni morescriterion on the restriction of free testamentary disposition. This study proceeds with due cognisance of relevant juridical, social and economic considerations which provide a basis for both freedom of testation and its limitation. In this regard a historical perspective is obtained at the outset through an analysis of the approach to freedom of testation in Roman and Roman-Dutch law. The position with regard to South African law is thereafter investigated. The "traditional" approach to freedom of testation (and its restriction) is examined first, whereafter the possible impact of relevant provisions of the South African Bill of Rights on free testamentary disposition is considered from a theoretical perspective. A comparative study then follows. In this regard the approach to freedom of testation in both common law and continental or civil law legal systems is investigated. English and Australian law are considered as examples of the former while Dutch, Belgian and German law are considered as examples of the latter. The investigation into all the legal systems mentioned above has a dual focus. On the one hand the support which is rendered to freedom of testation in each legal system is considered. This support is readily founded on the acknowledgement in each system of private ownership and hence private succession, the latter which in turn acknowledges testamentary freedom. Other elements of the law of testate succession which render support to freedom of testation in each system are also examined. The restriction of free testamentary disposition in each legal system is investigated on the other hand. This investigation is principally focused on the impact of the boni mores, legal convictions of the community, public interest, public policy (the last-mentioned consideration is of particular importance in common law legal systems) and the good morals (particularly relevant in civil law legal systems) on the restriction of freedom of testation. Proposals for a future approach to the restriction of freedom of testation in South African law in accordance with a constitutionally founded boni mores-criterion are advanced in the closing chapter. The principal proposal in this regard is couched in the form of a new statutory provision which would best address the legal problem under discussion. This proposal is then illustrated with reference to practical examples.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Testeervryheid vorm een van die grondslae van die Suid-Afrikaanse testate erfreg. Suid- Afrikaanse testateurs kan dientengevolge na goeddunke by wyse van testament oor hul bates beskik. Hierdie vryheid is egter nie absoluut nie en word ooreenkomstig bepaalde sosiale en ekonomiese oorwegings beperk - sommige beperkings is gemeenregtelik van aard terwyl andere in wetgewing beslag kry. Die boni mores of regsgevoel van die gemeenskap is een van die sosiaal-gefundeerde meganismes aan die hand waarvan testeervryheid in die Suid- Afrikaanse reg beperk word. Sowel die Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewer as die Suid-Afrikaanse howe het egter in onlangse tye in gebreke gebly om die regsposisie ten opsigte van die beperking van testeervryheid ingevolge die boni mores te vernuwe. Regsontwikkeling op hierdie gebied is des te meer noodsaaklik in die lig van Suid-Afrika se nuwe grondwetlike bedeling - die invloed van grondwetlike regte en beginsels op die privaatreg (en derhalwe ook op testeervryheid) word geredelik deur die interpretasie en toepassing van Suid-Afrika se finale Grondwet aan die orde gestel. In die lig van bogenoemde oorwegings word 'n studie van testeervryheid in die algemeen en die aanwending van 'n grondwetlik-gefundeerde boni mores-maatstaf ter beperking van testeervryheid in die besonder in hierdie werk onderneem. Die studie geskied deurgaans aan die hand van tersaaklike juridiese, sosiale en ekonomiese oorwegings wat sowel testeervryheid as die beperking van dié vryheid fundeer. In hierdie verband word 'n historiese perspektief ter aanvang verkry deurdat die benadering tot testeervryheid in die Romeinse en Romeins- Hollandse reg ontleed word. Die posisie in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg word daarna op tweeledige wyse ondersoek. Die "tradisionele" benadering tot testeervryheid (en die beperking daarvan) word enersyds onder die loep geneem waarna 'n teoretiese perspektief op die moontlike invloed van tersaaklike bepalings van die Suid-Afrikaanse Handves van Regte op testeervryheid andersyds verkry word. 'n Regsvergelykende studie word daarna onderneem. In hierdie verband word die benadering tot testeervryheid in sowel "common law"- as kontinentale of "civil law "-regstelsels beskou. Die Engelse en Australiese reg word as voorbeelde van eersgenoemde ontleed terwyl die Nederlandse, Belgiese en Duitse reg as voorbeelde van laasgenoemde beskou word. Die fokus van die ondersoek na al die regstelsels hierbo vermeld, val enersyds op die onderskraging wat in elke regstelsel aan testeervryheid verleen word. Sodanige onderskraging spruit geredelik uit die erkenning in die onderskeie regstelsels van private eiendomsreg en derhalwe private erfopvolging, laasgenoemde wat weer op die erkenning van testeervryheid dui. Ook ander elemente van die testate erfreg wat in elke van die genoemde regstelsels ter onderskraging van testeervryheid funksioneer, word beskou. Die beperking van testeervryheid in elk van die regstelsels word andersyds ondersoek. Die fokus val in hierdie verband veralop die invloed van die boni mores, regsgevoel van die gemeenskap, openbare belang, openbare beleid (laasgenoemde veral relevant in "common law"-regstelsels) en die goeie sedes (veral relevant in kontinentale regstelsels) op die beperking van testeervryheid. In die slothoofstuk word voorstelle omtrent 'n toekomstige benadering tot die beperking van testeervryheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg aan die hand van 'n grondwetlik-gefundeerde boni mores-maatstaf gemaak. Die vernaamste voorstel in hierdie verband vind beslag in 'n nuwe statutêre bepaling wat die onderhawige regsprobleem ten beste sal aanspreek. Hierdie voorstel word ten slotte aan die hand van praktiese voorbeelde toegelig.

C’est désormais un fait acquis : la population française a vieilli. Cette évolution démographique n’est pas sans incidence sur le droit des successions et libéralités. D’une part, la personne âgée est incitée à transmettre précocement aux générations plus jeunes et plus actives. D’autre part, elle est sommée de songer au coût de la prise en charge d’une éventuelle dépendance liée au grand âge. Ces injonctions contradictoires conduisent à adopter une approche différente de l'anticipation successorale. Bien entendu, l'acte d'anticipation sera toujours considéré comme efficace lorsqu’il permettra au de cujus d’imposer durablement sa volonté, au-delà même de la mort. Mais, désormais, l’acte doit en outre faire montre d’une certaine capacité d’adaptation. Face aux différents événements jalonnant une longue existence, les besoins de chacun évoluent, si bien que les arbitrages réalisés plusieurs décennies auparavant se révéleront parfois peu judicieux. C'est pourquoi la stabilité et l'adaptabilité sont désormais devenues les deux caractéristiques primordiales, bien qu’apparemment inconciliables, d’une stratégie de transmission pérenne. Pour triompher de l’épreuve du temps, le projet doit ainsi allier tout à la fois les qualités du chêne et du roseau, c’est-à-dire aussi bien la robustesse de l’arbre séculaire que la souplesse de la jeune plante
It’s a fact : the French population is aging. This demographic trend has an impact on inheritance law and estate planning. On one hand, seniors are encouraged to hand down property to younger generations early on. On the other hand, they are asked to put aside money for their own care. Estate planning must adapt to this new context. As of now, stability and adaptability are the two primordial characteristics of good estate planning, although they’re apparently irreconcilable. First, you must be sure that wishes will be respected and not betrayed by the heirs after your death. Then, Estate planning will be more efficient if it can adapt. Life changes, needs change, so the elderly must be free to change their mind when a project made years ago becomes irrelevant. To be more efficient, estate planning must combine the qualities of the oak and the reed : the robustness of the old tree and the flexibility of the young plant

La France est un pays laïc. Son système successoral aussi est d'identité laïque. La loi successorale s'applique à tous les français sans distinction de sexe et de religion. En revanche, le Liban est un pays multiconfessionnel. En matière des statuts personnels dont la succession fait partie, il est soumis aux règles religieuses et civiles. Pour les musulmans libanais, ces règles sont issues du Coran. En revanche, les chrétiens et les juifs libanais appliquent une loi laïque inspirée de l'ancien Code civil français. Face à cette situation, le principe de l'égalité de tous devant la loi- garantie par la constitution libanaise- est loin d'être respecté. Depuis longtemps, le droit français est une source d'inspiration du droit libanais. Tel est le cas du Code des contrats et des obligations libanais qui fut le fruit du travail du doyen JOSSERAND, ce Code étant toujours en vigueur au Liban. Dès lors, comment le législateur libanais peut-il moderniser et réformer les lois religieuses pour qu'elles soient en harmonie avec les autres lois du pays ? L'élaboration d'une loi successorale unique à la lumière du droit français serait-elle possible et souhaitable?
France is a lay country. Thus its laws governing system of estates upon death are ruled by the principle of identity. Such laws apply to all French nationals irrespective of sex and religion. On the contrary, Lebanon is a multi-religious country. As regards matters relating to transmission of property upon death, the lebanese are governed by their religious and civil laws. For a Lebanese Moslem such rules are comprised in the Koran. Christian and Jewish Lebanese are subject to a lay legal system which sprang from French civil code. As a result, the principle of equality- of all before the law- warranted by the Lebanese constitution-is far from respected. For a long while now, French law has been a source of inspiration for Lebanese law. For exemple, the Lebanese contracts and debts code which resulted from the work of Dean JOSSERAND, the said code being still law in Lebanon. This being so, how can the Lebanese law maker modernise and reform the religious laws to bring them in line with the other laws of the country ? Would the elaboration of a unified Lebanese law of transmission of property upon death in the light of French law be feasible ?

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the European certificate of succession, and how it affects Swedish inheritance law. The European certificate of succession is a European document that will be introduced in august 2015 in the EU regulation of succession. The certificate of succession is meant to simplify the current process of cross-border inheritance by legitimizing the concerned parties, which according to the regulation are: heirs, legatees, executors of wills and administrators of the estate. According to the regulation, the member state of which the deceased had habitual residence shall have jurisdiction to rule on the succession as a whole. Since the certificate is a European document, it will have legal effect in all member states. Because of this, a decision from one authority/court in a member state will also be applicable in the other member states. This means that national law in a certain capacity becomes cross-border law, which requires strong regulation. The certificate itself cannot be counted as an estate inventory, choice of law, will, or similar. It can however be a basis for a decision concerning inheritance. The certificate can be considered as an acknowledgement of a decision from one member state, which will also be applicable in the other member states. In Sweden, the certificate will be issued by “Skatteverket” (the Swedish tax agency). The European certificate of succession will considerably simplify the cross-border inheritance process for EU-citizens.
Uppsatsens syfte är undersöka arvsintyget som rättshandling och diskutera dess följder på svensk arvsrätt. Det europeiska arvsintyget är en europeisk rättshandling som kommer införas i augusti 2015 i samband med EU:s nya arvsförordning. Arvsintyget är menat att förenkla processen vid gränsöverskridande arvsfrågor genom att legitimera de berörda parterna. Vilka enligt förordningen är: arvtagare, testamentstagare, boutredningsmän och testamentsexekutorer. I och med den nya arvsförordningen kommer hemvistprincipen få en större roll inom den europeiska arvsrätten och arvsintyget kan då användas för att förmedla ett domslut/bestämmande från en medlemsstat till en annan. Även universalitetsprincipen är av stor vikt vid behörighetsfrågor om gränsöverskridande arv, då den innebär att all kvarlåtenskap ska ingå i samma boutredning. Eftersom arvsintyget är en europeisk rättshandling kommer den ha rättsverkan i alla EU-länder som är bundna av arvsförordningen. Därför kommer ett beslut från myndighet/domstol i en medlemsstat även gälla i andra medlemsstater, vilket meddelas genom arvsintyget. Detta leder till att nationell lag i viss kapacitet blir gränsöverskridande, vilket kräver strikt reglering. Arvsintyget kan inte i sig självt räknas som en fördelning av kvarlåtenskap, lagvalsavtal eller liknande. Det kan dock ligga till grund för beslutande angående arvsskifte. Arvsintyget kan anses vara en kvittens av ett beslut från en medlemsstat, vilket ska gälla även i andra medlemsstater. Arvsintyget kommer i Sverige utfärdas av Skatteverket och kommer betydligt underlätta för EU-medborgare vid gränsöverskridande arvsfrågor.

Article 1209 of the Peruvian Civil Code regulates the situation in which the sole heiror any of them decides to transfer all or partof its estate to a third party, including rights and obligations. This is commonly known asan assignment of inheritance.In this article, the author presents a complete analysis on how the assignment of inheritance operates in certain situations, emphasizing in issues related to the liability of the assignee against creditors and the role of the transferor, as well as the necessary formalities for the transference.
El artículo 1209 del Código Civil regula el supuesto en que el heredero único o algunode los herederos de un patrimonio decidentransferir todo o parte de su patrimonio a untercero, incluyendo derechos y obligaciones. Esto, comúnmente, se conoce como cesión deherencia.En el presente artículo, el autor nos presenta un completo análisis respecto a cómo opera la cesión de herencia en determinados supues- tos, haciendo hincapié en los temas referentes a la responsabilidad del cesionarios frente a los acreedores y el rol del cedente, así como las formalidades que se debe seguir para llevar a cabo dicha cesión.

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From the analysis of the social, legal and economic rights of inheritance, it is very important to study the realization of the right to succession - promoted to a fundamental right - that can be achieved through some tutelage in our existing law, among which stand the action of application of inheritance. Given this scenario, the focus of this study is to define the contours of the action of the application of inheritance - conceived for the heir passed over in succession plead all the property inherited, based on the law and not merely the procedural aspects. Thus, in an attempt to offer a general theory of action under discussion, we leave its basic aspects, developing a broader overview of the succession causa mortis, and toured the right compared to the end, we face the issue widely discussed in doctrine and in court about the statue of limitations of that action
A partir da análise dos efeitos sociais, jurídicos e econômicos do direito sucessório, revela-se de suma importância o estudo da efetivação do direito à sucessão alçado à categoria de direito fundamental que pode ser alcançada por meio de algumas tutelas existentes em nosso direito, dentre as quais se destaca a ação de petição de herança. Tendo em vista esse cenário, o foco deste trabalho é delimitar os contornos da ação de petição de herança idealizada para que o herdeiro preterido na sucessão pleiteie a universalidade dos bens hereditários, tendo como base o direito material e não apenas os aspectos processuais. Assim, na tentativa de oferecer uma teoria geral da ação em comento, partimos dos seus aspectos basilares, traçando um panorama geral sobre a sucessão causa mortis, e excursionamos pelo direito comparado para, ao final, enfrentarmos a questão amplamente discutida na doutrina e nos tribunais no tocante aos prazos prescricionais da referida ação

La problématique des successions internationales a, récemment, accédé à l’actualité en Russie après l’ouverture du pays et la libération des échanges privés internationaux. En effet, avec la disparition de l’URSS en 1991, les russes se sont vus ouvrir les frontières, avec la possibilité notamment de développer leur commerce dans une économie mondiale. Ce sont désormais l’ensemble des États qui connaissent une immigration, partagée entre une volonté d’enracinement dans le pays d’accueil, et sinon le désir de retour, du moins la volonté de faire profiter la famille restée dans l’État d’origine de leurs économies. Cette population immigrée souvent vieillit et meurt dans le pays d’accueil. Cette intensification de l’immigration nous montre la nécessité d'une réglementation russe et d’une application claire de cette réglementation dans le domaine des successions internationales. Les règles de conflit russes sont principalement régies par des dispositions de droit interne, car les rares Conventions internationales signées par la Fédération de Russie dans ce domaine sont intentionnellement de nature, soit régionale, soit bilatérale. Pour cette raison, les règles de droit international privé et les règles substantielles russes reflète la spécificité de son système social, économique et juridique. La présente thèse a pour objectif d’étudier ces règles de manière transversale sur toute la matière du droit russe des successions internationales. Les deux principaux axes de cette étude constituent d’une part, la détermination de la loi applicable aux successions internationales, et d’autre part, le domaine d’application de la loi successorale russe. Nous espérons que la thèse sera utile à tous les praticiens qui seront amenés à appliquer le droit international privé russe des successions
The international inheritance issues have recently gained importance in Russia, since the opening of the country and the liberalisation of private international exchanges. Indeed, since 1991, with the URSS disintegration, the Russian nationals began to have their borders open with the possibility to develop their trade in a global economy. As a known phenomenon in all the countries, the immigration is shared between the desire to set down roots in the host country, and unless there is a will to return, at least a desire to have their families left in the original country benefit from their savings. Most of the time, this immigrant population ages and dies in the host country. The rising immigration from and to Russian Federation, illustrates the need of a clear regulation and enforcement in the area of the international inheritance law. The Russian conflict-of-law rules are mainly governed by internal rules, because the few international conventions signed by Russia in this area are deliberately regional or bilateral. For this reason, the rules of Russian private international law and the internal rules reflect the specificity of its social, economic and legal system. This Ph.D. undertakes a global reflexion on the Russian rules of the international inheritance law area. The two main axis of this study are, on the one hand, the determination of the applicable law to the international inheritance and the exploration of the domain of the Russian law applicable to the international inheritance. The aim of this thesis is to bring support to the patricians called to apply the Russian international private law in the area of inheritance

A l'heure où la famille moderne se conçoit au pluriel, à l'heure où les ascendants organisent en amont la transmission et la dévolution de leur patrimoine, à l'heure où la mondialisation prône l'uniformisation du droit et la fin des spécificités étatiques, il est nécessaire de s'interroger sur l'avenir de la réserve héréditaire. Les parents ne souhaitent plus être privés de leur pouvoir de disposer librement de leur patrimoine, même pour cause de mort. Que répondre à un père qui angoisse à l'idée de voir son patrimoine dilapidé par un enfant ingrat avec lequel il ne vit que de conflits ? Que dire à cet enfant qui a vu son frère avantagé par décision maternelle, de manière abusive et arbitraire ? Quels conseils donner à ces individus qui ouvrent chaque jour la porte de nos offices pour demander l'aide de leur notaire ? Que dire à cet époux qui veut protéger son conjoint de la véhémence d’enfants d’un premier lit ? Afin de leur répondre dans la pratique, appliquons-nous à étudier les moyens de contourner cette réserve héréditaire. Attachons-nous à vérifier leur efficacité. Au-delà des mécanismes classiques du Code civil tels que le testament et la donation, l'intérêt de cette thèse est de se tourner vers des mécanismes plus complexes, afin de répondre aux parents déçus par leur progéniture, mais aussi à eux, enfants lésés, pour leur donner des moyens juridiques de contrer une injuste privation. Il est utile de comprendre et de connaître ce qu’il est possible de faire pour transmettre son patrimoine avec une liberté recouvrée sans risquer les foudres de la loi. A travers l’étude de ces instruments, de leur efficacité et de leur traitement tant légal que familial, la question de la modernisation de la réserve ressurgit. La famille change, et avec elle, la conception traditionnelle de la réserve héréditaire
At a time when the modern family is conceived in the plural, at a time when ascendants organize upstream transmission and devolution of their heritage, at a time when globalization advocates the standardization of law and the end of specificities States, it is necessary to question the future of the hereditary reserve. Parents no longer wish to be deprived of their power to freely dispose of their patrimony, even for reasons of death. What to answer to a father who is anxious about seeing his heritage squandered by an ungrateful child with whom he lives only conflicts ? What to say to this child who saw his brother favored by maternal decision, in an abusive and arbitrary way ? What advice can be given to those individuals who open the door of our offices every day to ask the help of their notary ? What to say to this husband who wants to protect his spouse from the angry of children from a first bed ? In order to answer them in practice, let us study ways of circumventing this hereditary reserve. Let's focus on checking their effectiveness. Beyond the classical mechanisms of the Civil Code such as the will and the gift, the interest of this thesis is to turn to more complex mechanisms, in order to answer the parents disappointed by their offspring, but also to them, children wronged to give them legal means to counter unfair deprivation. It is useful to understand and know what can be done to transmit one's heritage with a recovered freedom without risking the wrath of the law. Through the study of these instruments, their efficiency and their legal and family treatment, the question of the modernization of the reserve resurfaces. The family changes, and with it, the traditional conception of the hereditary reserve

En aquesta tesi doctoral s’analitza la normativa que determina la posició del cònjuge i del convivent en parella estable supervivent, quan es dissol el matrimoni regit pel règim econòmic matrimonial de separació de béns o l’extinció de la parella estable a la qual se li aplica el Dret civil de Catalunya, amb motiu del traspàs de l’altre cònjuge o convivent, amb veïnatge civil català. La conclusió a què s’arriba és que la posició del cònjuge vidu ha anat millorant des de la reforma de la Compilació del Dret civil de Catalunya de 1984, en un procés d’adequació als canvis socials i econòmics que s’han produït en les concepcions de les famílies durant les últimes dècades. Aquests canvis també han permès la regulació de la convivència estable en parella. Tanmateix, encara hi ha marge perquè el nostre Dret civil evolucioni i s’adeqüi d’una manera més efectiva a les necessitats de la majoria dels ciutadans de Catalunya, que són els que tenen un patrimoni de consum o de subsistència. En aquest sentit, entenem que caldria atribuir drets de caràcter legitimari a favor del supervivent en la successió voluntària, ja sigui en propietat o en usdefruit, o disminuir les quotes legitimàries dels descendents; derogar la quarta vidual; situar el supervivent en el primer lloc en els ordres successoris intestats i derogar l’usdefruit; així com derogar l’any de viduïtat. Pel que fa a la compensació per raó de treball en cas de mort, probablement tindrà una aplicació molt residual i no comportarà cap millora significativa per al cònjuge o convivent supervivent. La raó és que les atribucions per causa de mort s’imputen al pagament del crèdit a favor del cònjuge o convivent supervivent. Per al supòsit que s’arribés a atribuir al supervivent la condició de legitimari, caldria derogar aquesta institució. Quant al règim de separació de béns la denominació no concorda amb el seu contingut, degut als canvis que s’han anat produint. També es palesa que fora de la regulació d’aquest règim de béns hi ha correctius. Així l’any de viduïtat i la regulació en seu de Dret de família de les adquisicions oneroses amb pacte de supervivència només poden tenir sentit en el règim legal supletori. El procés de millora del cònjuge vidu en la successió intestada, en el fons ha estat pensat com un pal·liatiu, per tal de corregir les desigualtats que pot produir el règim de separació de béns. Pel que fa a la quarta vidual, la finalitat continua essent bàsicament la protecció del cònjuge vidu, que com a conseqüència del règim legal de béns, es pot trobar quan mor el seu consort que hagi atorgat testament, mancat de mitjans econòmics suficients. Per tant, hi ha uns vasos comunicants entre aquestes institucions i el règim de separació de béns. Pel que fa a la convivència estable en parella, proposem establir algun tipus de vinculació entre la llei aplicable a l’establiment de la convivència i l’anomenat “règim convivencial.”
En esta tesis doctoral se analiza la normativa que determina la posición del cónyuge y del conviviente en pareja estable superviviente, cuando se disuelve el matrimonio regido por el régimen económico matrimonial de separación de bienes o la extinción de la pareja estable a la que se aplica el Derecho civil de Catalunya, con motivo de la muerte del otro cónyuge o conviviente, con vecindad civil catalana. La conclusión a la cual se llega es que la posición del cónyuge viudo ha ido mejorando desde la reforma de la Compilación del Derecho civil de Catalunya de 1984, en un proceso de adecuación a los cambios sociales y económicos que se han ido produciendo en las concepciones de las familias durante las últimas décadas. Estos cambios también han permitido la regulación de la convivencia estable en pareja. Sin embargo, todavía queda margen para que el Derecho civil de Catalunya evolucione y se adecue de una manera más efectiva a las necesidades de la mayoría de los ciudadanos de Catalunya, que son los que tienen un patrimonio de consumo o de subsistencia. En este sentido, entendemos que sería necesario atribuir derechos de carácter legitimario a favor del sobreviviente en la sucesión voluntaria, ya sea en propiedad o en usufructo, o disminuir las cuotas legitimarias de los descendiente; derogar la cuarta viudal; situar al sobreviviente en el primer lugar de los órdenes sucesorios intestados i derogar el usufructo y también el año de viudedad. Por lo que se refiere a la compensación económica por razón de trabajo en caso de muerte, probablemente tendrá una aplicación muy residual i no conllevará ninguna mejora significativa para el cónyuge o el conviviente sobreviviente. La razón es que las atribuciones por causa de muerte se imputan al pago del crédito a favor del cónyuge o del conviviente superviviente. Para el supuesto de que se llegase a atribuir al sobreviviente la condición de legitimario, procedería la derogación de esta institución. Respecto al régimen de separación de bienes la denominación no concuerda con su contenido, debido a los cambios que se han ido produciendo. También se pone de manifiesto que fuera de la regulación de este régimen de bienes hay correctivos. Así el año de viudedad y la regulación en sede de Derecho de familia de las adquisiciones onerosas con pacto de supervivencia sólo pueden tener sentido en el régimen legal supletorio. El proceso de mejora del cónyuge viudo en la sucesión intestada, en el fondo ha sido pensado como un paliativo, para corregir las desigualdades que puede producir el régimen de separación de bienes. Por lo que se refiere a la cuarta viudal, la finalidad continua siendo básicamente la protección del cónyuge viudo, que como consecuencia del régimen legal de bienes, se puede encontrar cuando muere su consorte que haya otorgado testamento, sin medios económicos suficientes. Por lo tanto, hay unos vasos comunicantes entre estas instituciones y el régimen de separación de bienes. En cuanto a la convivencia estable en pareja, proponemos establecer algún tipo de vinculación entre la ley aplicable al establecimiento de la convivencia y el llamado “régimen convivencial”.
This thesis examines the Catalan law's regulation that determines the position of the widow when a marriage that is governed by separation of assets ends by death of one of the spouses. It also examines the position of the surviving cohabitant when the cohabitation ends by death of one of them, provided that Catalan Law applies to the cohabitation. The conclusion is that the position of the widowed spouse has improved since the reform of the Compilation of Civil Law of Catalonia in 1984, in a process of adaptation to social and economic changes that have occurred in the conceptions of the family during the last decades. These changes have also allowed the regulation of stable cohabiting couples. However, our civil law's evolution must go on to adapt itself more effectively to the needs of the majority of the middle class citizens of Catalonia. In this regard, we believe that the voluntary succession should be reformed in order that the surviving spouse or the surviving cohabiting becomes a forced heir, whether in property or usufruct, to reduce the legitime of the descendants and to delete the widow allowance; the widowed spouse or the surviving cohabiting should be located in the first degree of intestate succession, before children and descendants, and the year of widowhood should be abolished. Regarding the financial compensation by reason of work carried out for the household or for the other spouse in the event of death, it will not probably entail any significant improvement for the surviving spouse or cohabitant, because the Law assigns to the payment of the financial compensation any bequest ordered by the causer to the surviving spouse or cohabitant. If the widowed spouse and the surviving cohabitant become forced heirs, the financial compensation should be repealed in the event of death. The noteworthy changes introduced to the matrimonial property regime of separation of assets (the default regime if the spouses haven't agreed another one) have caused that its content does not correspond with the preserved name. In addition, there are other mechanisms to correct undesired effects of the regime of separation of assets: the year of widowhood, and the tontine clause in the acquisitions of assets by both spouses. The improvement of the position of the widow and the surviving cohabitant in intestate succession pursues the same purpose. Regarding to widowed allowance (despite the name, the surviving cohabitant may also claim it), it aims to protect the widowed who, with their own assets, those he/she may be entitled to owing to the settlement of the financial marriage system and those that the causer attributes to him/her mortis causa or in consideration of death, does not have sufficient financial means to meet their needs. Therefore, there are communicating vessels between these institutions and the matrimonial property regime of separation of assets. Regarding cohabiting couples, there should be some kind of link between the law applicable to the cohabiting couples and the "cohabitational regime."

Le statut patrimonial du conjoint survivant est, depuis toujours, exposé à un dépeçage législatif source de difficultés de qualification et d’articulation, qu’il convenait de confronter aux évolutions connues par la matière sur le plan du droit international privé et sur celui du droit interne. Or ni l’entrée en application des règlements UE (n°650/2012 sur les successions et n°2016/1103 sur les régimes matrimoniaux), ni le mouvement de faveur pour le conjoint survivant n’ont éradiqué les difficultés affectant son statut patrimonial en droit international privé. D’où l’intérêt, dans un premier temps, d’user des ressources offertes par la qualification, la substitution, l’adaptation pour tenter de les surmonter au cas par cas ; puis, dans un second temps, de chercher à réunifier le statut du conjoint sous l’empire d’une seule loi. Deux voies permettraient d’atteindre ou, à tout le moins, de favoriser la réalisation d’une telle unité législative. Nous avons éliminé la première d’entre elles, consistant à modifier le contenu des différentes catégories de rattachement concernées soit en les fusionnant soit en étendant l’une d’entre elles. En revanche, nous avons retenu la seconde d’entre elles, reposant sur la modification du rattachement matrimonial après le décès, soit par le biais de la substitution judiciaire désormais admise par le règlement n°2016/1103, soit par le biais de l’accord inter partes déjà admis par le droit français
The patrimonial status of the surviving spouse has always been exposed to a legislative “dépeçage”, entailing characterization and articulation difficulties, which had to be confronted to current evolutions known in private international law and substantive law. However, neither the implementation of EU Regulations (no.650/2012 on inheritance and no.2016/1103 on matrimonial property), nor the favour for the surviving spouse have eradicated the difficulties affecting his or her patrimonial status in private international law. Hence the interest, as a first step, to apply the techniques of qualification, substitution or adaptation in an attempt to overcome these difficulties on a case by case basis; then, as a second step, to pursue the reunification of the surviving spouse’s patrimonial status under only one legislation. Two ways would enable to reach or, at least, enhance the achievement of such a legislative unity. The first solution, involving the modification of the content of the relevant connection categories, either by merging them or by extending one of them, has been eliminated. However, the second one, based on the modification of matrimonial connection after death, either by judicial substitution, as now recognized by the EU regulation no.2016/1103, or through inter partes agreement, as already recognized under French law, has been upheld

M.A.
This thesis attempts in the first instance to declare the South African Law of Inheritance unconstitutional to the Muslim community of South Africa, and thereafter is as an attempt towards the codification of the Islamic law of Minith (Inheritance/Succesion), whereby which legislation could be passed recognising the Muslim or rather Islamic law of Nfirith (Inheritance/Succession).

The title of this thesis is: The Customary Law of Intestate Succession. The African customary law relating to intestate succession has always been known to discriminate against women. The thesis therefore focuses on the customary law of intestate succession in the countries of South Africa, Ghana and Swaziland and the inroads they have made in improving the rights of women in this discriminatory field of African customary law. This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the topic of the research. It highlights the organisation of the intended research which comprises: a statement of the problem, the legal framework, research methodology and a summary of the chapter. Chapter 2 defines the general terms and concepts used in the customary law of intestate succession. This facilitates an understanding of the general principles comprising the body of law known as the customary law of intestate succession and lays the foundation for the country specific issues that are investigated in the following chapters. Chapter 3 discusses the recognition, application and development of the customary law of intestate succession in the country of South Africa. Chapter 4 considers the rules and laws of the customary law of intestate succession in the West African country of Ghana. Chapter 5 explains the current rules and laws of the customary law of intestate succession prevailing in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Finally, chapter 6 brings the thesis to a meaningful end, by criticizing the approaches adopted by the countries of South Africa, Ghana and Swaziland in improving the rights of women as far as the customary law of intestate succession is concerned. The chapter also presents various recommendations for improving the rights of women in this discriminatory field of the law.
Public, Constitutional, & International
LL.D.

Text in English
This study indicates the strong link between the belief in the afterlife and the inception of testamentary dispositions in ancient Egypt. To understand law, and specifically succession law, the importance of religion must be understood. Religion was embedded in society. One of the most important principles of religion was maat, which formed the basis for law. The living and dead formed part of the same community. The belief in the afterlife implied an immortality, an eternal continuation of life. There was a moral relationship between the dead and living and the deceased was dependent on sustenance after death. There was an obligation for the family to sustain the deceased, but this piety diminished and a need arose to make arrangements for sustenance prior to death. This led to the inception of the testamentary disposition document. The purpose of succession law is to maintain and strengthen the socio-economic structure in society and it therefore fulfils a social function. At the heart is the nuclear family. In ancient Egypt two systems of succession law developed: customary intestate succession and testate succession (by way of testamentary disposition). Different types of documents were used in ancient Egypt to serve the purpose of a testamentary disposition, such as the pious foundation and the imyt-pr. Important concepts and elements of succession law from the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms are identified and discussed. These include fideicommissum, trusts, usufruct, habitatio, legacies, the importance to indicate ownership of property, etc. The testamentary disposition documents of ancient Egypt must be one of the earliest examples of testate succession law. The Egyptian testamentary disposition, with its concepts and elements of succession law, was established centuries before Rome and Roman law were established. The resemblance to our modern-day wills and testaments through our Roman testate succession law heritage is remarkable.
Classics and World Languages
D. Litt. et Phil. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

Testament Abstract The aim of this thesis was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the testament, one of the most important institutes of inheritance law. Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the New Civil Code, focuses on strengthening testamentary freedom, which permits the testator to decide, how his property is disposed of upon his death. This work is divided into three chapters. Chapter one brings general and comprehensive overview of legislation on inheritance law, notably with respect that inheritance law is part of to the private law. Attention has been paid to principles on which the law is based on. The work then defines the other two inheritance titles, i.e. heritage contract and intestate succession, and compares them with the "will". Second chapter, which is main theme of this master's thesis, outline discusses about the institute of last will, including obligatory and optional elements of testament, permissible forms of will, clauses, legatum and revocation the testament, while briefly considering some institutes more closely in the light of the current legislation. Finally, the paper examines Polish inheritance law, with an eye towards field of testate succession and explains the nuances within both systems. It sets out the fundamental differences. On the other hand points out the similarities, even...

This diploma thesis discusses phenomena of parallel legal norms applicable in the Great Britain. There is guaranteed enforceability of those parts of the Islamic law, which deals with family and inheritance matters in the United Kingdom. This phenomenon is result of decades lasting process going back to the colonialism. Given the current events such as so called migration crisis in the Europe and self-declaration of "Islamic State", the question of religious law of minorities become priority theme of public discourse and is also topic of common debates between critics and advocates of normative diversity. Crucial incident that influenced public debate, especially reflection of success rate of immigrants' integration, had been the London bombings of 7/7 2005. In the thesis are presented specific examples of clash of British Common Law and the Islamic Law. The force of disintegration is Salafism that affects Muslim minorities and which is imported to the UK primarily from Saudi Arabia. The online Fatwas, a very problematic issue, is dealt with in the end of the thesis as well. Given the impossibility to regulate influence of the internet, online fatwas have profound effect over vulnerable youngsters. Keywords: Islam, Islamic Law, Great Britain, Sharia, Islamic Family Law, Islamic Inheritance Law,...

Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls are denied their right to inherit from their husbands and fathers as a result of the operation of the indigenous law rule of male primogeniture, in terms of which an heir must be male. This violates prohibitions on gender discrimination, as well as other, more specific provisions found in international human rights treaties. However, courts in both South Africa and Zimbabwe have in recent years upheld the rule. States Parties to relevant treaties have an obligation to ensure equal inheritance rights for women and girls. In the case of South Africa, provisions of the Constitution are also relevant. After discussing the operation of the indigenous law of inheritance, the international human rights provisions violated by it, as well as the recommendations of the South African Law Commission and legislative proposals on this issue, the writer suggests that legislation should be adopted to ensure equality for women and girls, while retaining the positive aspects of indigenous law and culture.
Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law
LL. M. (Law)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Masters of Arts degree in Development Studies. University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg March 2015
This study seeks to explore the lived experiences of black South African widows living in a poor socio-economic locality using a qualitative research design, which allows for deeper engagement of widows’ experiences of their own world. Having benefited immensely from reviewing literature on numerous legislative measures that have been enacted to protect the rights of women in South Africa, this study takes an entry point of analysing experiences of widowhood from the widow’s perspective. Underpinned by the central question of examining how and in what ways customary practices of inheritance have affected the lived experiences of widows, the study challenges the view that African widows are silent and helpless victims of patriarchal beliefs and practices. It presents findings drawn from life history narratives of ten black women living in low-socio economic areas of Midrand and Tembisa located in the present day Gauteng province of South Africa, which indicated that widows in this locality were victims of structural, political and socio-economic factors. It also observed that widows were also victims of invisible and often unrecognised power of patriarchal attitudes that have lingered on. The study then deployed a feminist narrative approach to analyse the findings, which shows that some of the black women’s experiences are informed by their socio-cultural realities and their lives are shaped by the unique intersection between race, gender and social class. Drawing from the main findings, I argue that culture, patriarchy, tradition, gender, and class are not distinct realms of experience, existing in isolation; rather they come into existence in and through relations with each other. Furthermore, the study argues that the connection between widowhood and law is marked by contradictions and uncertainties, which are deeply embedded in unequal power relations, socio-cultural and legislative measures of the broader post-apartheid South African context. By extension, this has seen such dynamics as class, level of education and types of marriages strongly playing themselves out in the lived experiences of widowhood. The study uses this as a launch pad to argue that in various ways, African widows exercise their agency, their silence being one of their chosen forms of resistance to challenge and question patriarchal domination. This study then suggests that widows and the experience of widowhood ought not to be seen from a homogenizing approach, as it tends to mask the limitations of legislative measures as an effective mechanism in countering the negative effects of customary and traditional practices.

This thesis deals with changes in the scope of autonomy of the devisor's will in the period from 1 January 1812 until the present days. Using the descriptive and analytical method and comparative method, the aim of this thesis is to explicate development of individual institutes of the law of succession, by means of which the devisor could or in particular can manifest his/her autonomy. This thesis is divided into five main parts, which are further divided into chapters and subchapters. The first part of the thesis represents an introductory excursus to the issue of the law of succession and the stress is put on basic principles of the law of succession and historical development thereof. The second part deals with manifestations of autonomy of the devisor's will under effectiveness of ABGB. Attention is paid to individual institutes of the law of succession and development thereof, special part deals with a testament as the most important manifestation of the freedom of disposition. Interpretation of individual institutes is presented in particular in the light of the comments and judicature of the period of the First Czechoslovak Republic. The third part deals with manifestations of autonomy of the devisor's will under effectiveness of the Civil Code of 1950. The third part endeavors to describe...

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The thesis examines the characteristics of land tenure among African families with freehold title who trace their relationship to the land to their forebears who first acquired title in the mid-nineteenth century. The evidence was drawn from two field sites in the Eastern Cape, Fingo Village, Grahamstown and Rabula in the Keiskammahoek district of the former Ciskei. The evidence, supported by evidence in other Anglophone countries, shows that African familial relationships reminiscent of ‘customary’ concepts of the family, were not, and are not extinguished when title is issued, though they are altered. Africans with title regard the land as family property held by unilineal descent groups, challenging the western notion of one-to-one proprietal relationships to the land and its devolution. By exploring the intersection between tenure, use and devolution of land, the main findings reveal that local conceptions of land and use diverge considerably from the formal, legal notion of title. Title holders conceive of their land as the property of all recognised members of a patrilineally defined descent group symbolised by the family name. Because freehold is so intimately linked with inheritance, the findings significantly illuminate the social field of gender and kinship. The implications of the findings are that differing concepts of the ‘family’ and ‘property’ are fundamental to the lack of ‘fit’ between the common-law concept of ownership and what I term in the thesis ‘African freehold’. The thesis dissects the implications of culturally constructed variability in familial identities for recognition and transmission of property. Title is legally regulated by Eurocentric notions of both family and property, which lead to significant divergence between western and African interpretations of ownership, transmission and spatial division of land. The deficiencies of the South African legal mindset with regard to property law are thus fundamentally affected by the deficiencies in recognising the broader field of gender and kinship relations. The findings fundamentally challenge the dualistic paradigm currently prevalent in much of South African legal thinking, since the factors that are found to affect land tenure relationships cannot be reduced to the binary distinctions that are conventionally drawn in law, such as ‘western’ vs. ‘customary’ or ‘individual’ vs. iii ‘communal’ tenure. Instead, the important sources of validation of social (importantly, familial) and property relationships are found to be common to all property relationships, but are arranged and calibrated according to different normative patterns of recognition. In the case of the subjects in the field sites, these do not fit into the main ‘categories’ of property defined in law. Neither of the main bodies of official law, the common law and customary law, adequately characterise the relationships among the African freehold title holders. The source of legitimation is, therefore, not the ‘law’ but locally understood norms and practices. The findings suggest that the practices of the freeholders, derived from constructed ideas of kinship and descent, have relevance for a wide range of diverse African land tenure arrangements and categories, and not only ‘African freehold’. The findings therefore have significant implications for law reform more broadly. The thesis suggests that law reform should move away from models that do not match reality, and in particular should heed the warnings that titling policies as presently designed are particularly poorly aligned with the realities presented in the thesis.

Orientação: Maria Emília Raposo ; co-orientação: Luís Manuel Manana de Sousa
A escolha do tema, A Implementação do Regime Simplificado de Sucessão Hereditária em Registo Civil, tem como principal objetivo analisar as normas que foram introduzidas no Código do Registo Civil no que respeita aos procedimentos simplificados de Sucessão Hereditária, tendo sido criado dois balcões de serviços de atendimentos, denominados, BALCÃO DAS HERANÇAS e BALCÃO DO DIVÓRCIO COM PARTILHA, serviços esses realizados nas Conservatórias do Registo Civil. A ideia fundamental deste estudo é adquirir novos conhecimentos teóricos e práticos na área do regime simplificado de sucessão hereditária em Registo Civil, quais os procedimentos que podem ser praticados, designadamente o inicio do procedimento, sua tramitação e outras formalidades que os respetivos serviços deverão cumprir. Serão analisadas as vantagens e desvantagens que o Balcão das Heranças veio introduzir quer para o cidadão comum quer para quem exerce a atividade de Solicitadoria. Também serão discutidas questões inerentes à não atribuição dos procedimentos simplificados de Habilitação de Herdeiros aos Solicitadores que trabalham com o Balcão Único do Solicitador. Num trabalho desta natureza, não poderia deixar de fazer uma curta análise à definição de sucessão, quando a mesma é aberta, quais as modalidades e as espécies de sucessores. Serão apresentados e analisados casos práticos que foram outorgados ao abrigo do regime simplificado em Registo Civil, outros outorgados nos moldes tradicionais em Cartórios Notariais e uma partilha feita no Balcão Único do Solicitador, onde serão feitas algumas considerações. Assim sendo, espero que o meu trabalho auxilie os leitores no estudo e exercício da prática de atos de Sucessão Hereditária com especial incidência para quem exerce a atividade profissional de Solicitador.
The choosing of this theme, The implementation of the Simplified Regime for Succession by Inheritance in Civil Registration, has as main objective to analyze the rules that were introduced in the Civil Registry Code as regards to the simplified procedures in Succession by inheritance, the creation of the two desk’s answering services, denominated, Legacies Desk and Desk of Divorce with Sharing, services that be performed in the Civil Registry. The main idea of this study is to acquire new knowledge and expertise in the area of the simplified system of Succession by Inheritance in Civil Registration, what procedures can be practiced, particularly the beginning of the procedure, their proceedings and other formalities that the respective services should comply. Will be analyzing the advantages that the "Legacies Desk" has introduced either for the citizen or to who exercises the activity of Solicitors. Also it will discuss issues related to the non-allocation of simplified certificates of inheritance the Solicitors who work with the Single Desk for Solicitor. In a work of this kind, could not be fail to make a short review of the definition of succession, when this procedure is open, which types and the species of successors. Finally will be presented and analyzed some practical cases that have been bestowed under the Simplified System in Civil Registration, others bestowed in traditional ways in Notary’s Office and one asset-share held at the Single Desk for Solicitor, where some comments will be made. Thus, I hope that my work assists the readers in the study and in the exercise of acts of Succession by inheritance with special incidence for whoever exercises professional the activity of Solicitor.

This diploma thesis [in the master's course], drawn up at the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague, deals with the principles of the law of inheritance in Bohemia prior to its codification in 1811. Although inheritance law is one of the oldest branches of law, and was very thoroughly developed in ancient Roman law, in our territory it actually started to develop some more only after the Hussite movement. That is due to the fact that in the Middle Ages, the prevailing concepts were the ruler's right to bona vacantia and family indivisible ownership ["rodinný nedíl" in Czech], both of which did not really make it possible to pass estate from the deceased to their heirs. Therefore the aim of the thesis is to examine and gain a deeper insight into the historical development and historical contexts of the law of inheritance in our territory, which had preceded its modern form that was first codified in Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch [the General Civil Code], which accepted the structure of the Inheritance Patent of Joseph II in 1811. Part One of the thesis, Introduction, briefly discusses the law of inheritance as a specific element of legal science, the principles of inheritance law, and inheritance conditions and titles. Part Two, Excursion into History - Inheritance in Roman Law,...

In most cases in a deceased person’s estate, there are problems with co-ownership where more than one family member inherits the deceased family estate assets. To escape the perils of co-ownership the beneficiaries consensually agree to divide the inherited communallyshared asset/s. This agreement can take place immediately after the death of the family estate owner or some time later regarding some or all of the said assets. On the conclusion of the division agreement, the contractual party who receives the awarded assets enjoys sole ownership and the other contractual parties by agreement retract their ownership. In a jurisprudential content analysis of forty-six recorded family deceased division agreements from Old Babylonian Larsa and Nippur, essential elements are identified which are the framework and qualification requirements for a family deceased division agreement. Within this framework the concepts, terms and elements of the agreement are categorised as natural and incidental elements, which reflect the specific law traditions and choices of contractual parties and show the unique scribal traditions in the different Old Babylonian city-states of Larsa, Nippur and Sippar. The aim of the study is to shed a more focused light on the interpretation of recorded Old Babylonian division agreements and to show that the division agreement was a successful, timeless, estate administration mechanism and tool to obviate any undesirable consequences of co-ownership of the bequeathed property.
Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

Les « dispositions successorales spéciales » de la lex situs apportent une exception particulière au système unitaire de la loi applicable à la succession. Leur reconnaissance dans le récent Règlement du Parlement européen et du Conseil relatif à la compétence, la loi applicable, la reconnaissance et l'exécution des décisions, et l'acceptation et l'exécution des actes authentiques en matière de successions et à la création d'un certificat successoral européen du 4 juillet 2012 témoigne de l’importance et de l’actualité de cette prévision normative. L’exception trouve sa source dans l’article 15 de la Convention du 1er août 1989 sur la loi applicable aux successions à cause de mort, formule qui fut suivi par l’article 3099 al. 2 du Code civil du Québec. La conception originaire de la règle se situe à l’article 28 de la Loi d’introduction au Code civil allemand de 1896. Ces législations reconnaissent la nécessité de respecter certaines dérogations aux règles successorales ordinaires dont le contenu matériel justifie une rupture exceptionnelle de l’unité de la succession internationale. Ainsi, l’opposition traditionnelle entre le système scissionniste qui divise la loi applicable à la succession en fonction de la nature mobilière ou immobilière des biens et celui qui postule l’unité législative trouve dans le respect des « dispositions spéciales » de la lex rei sitae régissant certains biens de la succession un facteur conciliateur. Il s’agit de respecter un minimum normatif de la loi de l’État où sont situés certains biens de la succession malgré la compétence générale d’une lex successionis étrangère. Ce bloc normatif irréductible se présente comme un pont qui relie les deux solutions extrêmes dans une position intermédiaire où il n’y a plus de scission au sens classique du terme mais où l’unité est néanmoins brisée en raison de certaines considérations substantielles tirées de la destination des biens.
The « special inheritance rules » of the lex situs introduce a particular exception to the unitary system of the law applicable to succession. Its recognition by the recent Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and acceptance and enforcement of authentic instruments in matters of succession and on the creation of a European Certificate of Succession demonstrates the importance and the current relevance of this legal provision. We find the immediate precedent of the rule in Article 15 of the Convention of 1 August 1989 on the Law Applicable to Succession to the Estates of Deceased Persons, which also inspired Article 3099 par. 2 of the Civil Code of Quebec. The original conception of the rule comes from Article 28 of the Introductory Act of the German Civil Code of 1896. These legislations acknowledged the necessity of giving effect to some special provisions on succession whose material content legitimates an exceptional breach of the unity in international successions. Therefore, the traditional conflict between the scission and the unitary system of the law applicable to succession finds a conciliatory factor in the observation of the “special provisions” of the lex rei sitae over some particular assets of the estate notwithstanding the conflict rule. The intention is to preserve a minimal content of the State’s law where certain assets are located against the threat that a foreign lex successionis brings about. This uncompromising set of rules presents itself as a bridge to close the gap between these two extreme solutions. It does not contemplate the classic meaning of scission based on the movable or immovable nature of the property (territorial scission), but it breaks nonetheless the principle of unity, in favor of certain substantial considerations derived from the economic, family or social function of some specific assets, by means of a special connection to the lex situs.

The South African concept of freedom of testation is one of the most absolute concepts of freedom of testation in westernised legal systems. It is suggested that the South African concept of freedom of testation is a memento of capitalist patriarchy. As the South African legal system practices a nearly absolute concept of freedom of testation, capitalist patriarchy has maintained masculine control of property in South Africa and perpetuated the systems of male dominance prevalent in South Africa. Freedom of testation allows for wealth to pass from one male to another. It also allows entrenched gender roles to continue by excluding women from inheriting. Thus the South African law of testate succession and its central concept of freedom of testation allows for discrimination on the ground of gender.
Jurisprudence
LL.M

Alors qu’un éternel débat oppose les défenseurs de la scission et ceux de l’unité successorale, la professio juris donne une nouvelle perspective à la question de la détermination du droit applicable à une succession internationale, à travers le prisme de l’autonomie de la volonté et de la prévisibilité juridique. En conférant au de cujus la faculté de désigner lui-même le droit qui régira sa succession, elle lui permet d’écarter la règle de conflit objective au profit d’un ou de plusieurs rattachements de son choix et d’éviter l’incertitude reliée à l’appréciation des rattachements objectifs au moment du décès. Instaurée au Québec en 1994, cette institution n’existe que dans quelques États. Quoique présentant des intérêts indéniables en termes de planification, la professio juris a éveillé la crainte que le de cujus ne l’utilise que pour éluder les règles impératives du droit objectivement applicable, dont ses dispositions protectrices comme la réserve héréditaire. Deux types de limites à la professio juris ont ainsi émergé, restreignant l’éventail de lois parmi lesquelles le de cujus peut choisir et proscrivant ensuite certains effets de la désignation. Ce mémoire repose sur l’étude comparative des balises instituées dans plusieurs législations qui connaissent la professio juris, afin d’apporter un certain éclairage sur sa portée au Québec. Cette grille d’analyse permet également d’examiner comment la professio juris a été circonscrite dans d’autres États, de constater qu’elle peut offrir des avenues de planification qui n’ont pas été retenues au Québec et de porter un regard critique sur ces restrictions.
While an endless debate opposes the proponents of scission with the proponents of unity of succession, the professio juris offers a new option. The professio juris allows for the determination of the law applicable to an international succession to be evaluated through the perspective of a will’s autonomy and of legal predictability. By conferring to the deceased the ability to designate the law which would govern their succession, they may circumvent the rule of objective conflict in favour of one or more of the Connecting factors of their choice, and thus to avoid the incertitude linked to the evaluation of the objective Connecting factors upon their death. This institution, established in Quebec in 1994, exists only in certain states. Though advantageous in estate planning, the professio juris raised the apprehension that the deceased may use it in order to circumvent imperative rules of the objectively applicable law, and particularly its protective dispositions such as the hereditary reserve. Two limitations of the professio juris then emerged, firstly, restricting the number of laws from amongst which the deceased can choose, and secondly, limiting some of the possible consequences of said choice. This report is a comparative study of the limitations in effect in legislations that recognize the professio juris, in an attempt to clarify Quebec’s. Moreover, this study will analyse how the professio juris has been implemented in other states, observing that it can offer planning possibilities that are unavailable in Quebec, and, finally, to take a critical assessment of those limitations.

Dissertação de mestrado em Direito das Crianças, Família e Sucessões
O trabalho desenvolvido tem como objetivo analisar o regime jurídico da procriação medicamente assistida homóloga post mortem. Sendo assim, o estudo se divide numa primeira parte que trata a procriação medicamente assistida, sua admissibilidade, os beneficiários das técnicas de PMA e o tratamento dado pela Lei n.º 32/2006, de 26 de julho, com uma apreciação sobre a necessidade ou não de regulamentação legal e aspetos jurídicos. A segunda parte do estudo centra-se sobre a problemática decorrente da procriação medicamente assistida homóloga post mortem e todas as implicações ligadas à técnica, como por exemplo a questão do estatuto jurídico do embrião humano e o destino dos embriões excedentários. A terceira e última parte do presente trabalho desenvolve os aspetos sucessórios da procriação medicamente assistida homóloga post mortem, analisando-se a vocação sucessória, dando relevo para a titularidade de uma designação prevalente e para o pressuposto de existência da pessoa que sucederá ao autor da herança, de forma a determinar a tutela sucessória da pessoa gerada após a morte daquele que forneceu o material genético e contribuiu para a sua formação e nascimento através de um projeto parental. Assim, a evolução da ciência coadjuvada com os avanços tecnológicos e científicos permitiu à sociedade o acesso à procriação medicamente assistida para os casos em que a procriação de forma natural se mostra impossível de alcançar. Porém, a legislação atual não é capaz de responder a questões importantes confrontadas com a realidade presente, como é o caso da problemática do reconhecimento de efeitos legais de filiação do novo ser em relação ao beneficiário da técnica de PMA. Enquanto ser humano é digno de tutela jurídica e merece o respeito e a igualdade que a lei permite. Estas questões são cruciais para a vida futura do nascituro, desde logo nos seus direitos sucessórios.
The work aims to analyze the legal framework for medically assisted procreation homologous post mortem. Thus, the study is divided in a first part dealing with medically assisted procreation, its admissibility, the beneficiaries of PMA and the treatment given by Law No. 32/2006 of 26 July, with an assessment of the need or not for legal regulations and legal aspects. The second part of the study focuses on the problems resulting from medically assisted procreation homologous post mortem and the implications linked to the technique, such as the question of the legal status of the human embryo and the fate of surplus embryos. The third and final part of this work develops the succession aspects of assisted homologous procreation post mortem, analyzing the succession vocation, paying attention to the ownership of a prevalent designation and the person's existence assumption to succeed the author heritage in order to determine the succession conservancy generated person after the death of the one who provided the genetic material and contributed to its formation and birth through a parental project. Thus, the evolution of science assisted with the scientific and technological advances allowed the company access to medically assisted procreation for cases where procreation naturally proves impossible to achieve. However, the current legislation is not able to answer important questions facing this reality, as is the case of the recognition of legal effects issue of new born filiation in relation to the beneficiary of the PMA technique. As a human being is worthy of legal protection and deserves the respect and equality that the law allows. These issues are crucial for the future life of the unborn child, immediately in their inheritance.