Killers Inheritance Law Changed
DCA Press Release
18 December 2006
Children disinherited by a murder or manslaughter committed by
their parents, or by a refusal by parents to take up a legacy
under a will should still be eligible to inherit, the Government
announced today. The proposals, which apply to England and Wales,
will implement recommendations made by the Law Commission in its
2005 Report The Forfeiture Rule and the Law of Succession. The Law
Commission recommended that in any instance where a potential heir
cannot inherit, or is disqualified from inheriting, property
should be distributed as though that person had died. This means
that:
* Where there is no will, if a killer forfeits an inheritance,
their share will pass to the next in line. For example, if a son
kills his parents, his share will pass to the grandchildren.
* If a will states that money is left to 'A', "but if they should
predecease me, to 'B' ", then if A forfeits the inheritance, it
should pass to B.
* Where a potential heir refuses an inheritance (either under a
will or on intestacy), it should pass to the person who would have
received the money had the first heir died.