Improvement of Inheritance Law: are All the Proposed Changes Justified?

This article analyzes the most controversial provisions adopted on first reading June 7, 2016 by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation draft federal law on amendments to parts one, two and three of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation (concerning the improvement of the inheritance law), No. 801269-6 of May 26, 2015 (hereinafter Draft). On the one hand, the need for domestic civil law in making this Draft is undeniable and dictated by the rapid development of economic relations, strengthening the role of the business sector, complicating the whole assets of the estate, including the increase of cases of inheritance of shares in companies, and in general the interests of the subjects of Russian civil law to enhance their hereditary ability. Some provisions of the draft are far from being perfect, and are in need for a discussion and adjustment to the peculiarities of the Russian inheritance law and enforcement practice. The author identifies and analyzes the most controversial norms of the Project from the proposed rules changes: two institutions which are new and unknown to domestic law, that is joint wills of spouses and inheritance contracts; the provisions about wills, not taking into account such important issues as the responsibility of the executor in case of culpable violation of its mandated responsibilities, ability to specify in a will more than one executor, etc.; on the innovations in the line of succession to the escheat property in relation to the existing Art. 1152 of the Civil Code of RF, when it is not necessary to accept inheritance for purchasing the escheat property. The author formulates particular proposals to remove legal discrepancies and deficiencies of the Draft and improve inheritance legislation by adjusting and supplementing its provisions.

draft of the amendments to the Civil Code of the RF № 801269-6, joint will of spouses, notification of a notary, a testament, Institute of hereditary contract, encumbrance of the rights of the ancestor, a form of hereditary contract, amendment and termination of the contract, the liability of the executor, executor, inheritance of property, escheat, acceptance of the inheritance

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