Our Approach to Inheritance
Our Approach to Inheritance
Question
What is the Church’s position regarding the division of inheritance between men and women?
Answer
The Church has not established a specific system for inheritance.
Someone once came to the Lord Jesus Christ and said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” He answered him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” Then He said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12:13–15).
Christianity did not establish financial laws. Rather, it established spiritual principles under which financial problems, as well as other problems, can be resolved. This also applies to the matter of inheritance.
If there is love and freedom from greed among brothers and sisters, they can come to an understanding regarding the inheritance in a spirit of love and goodwill.
Indeed, each one should be willing to give up his or her share for any brother or sister whom they see as being in greater need.
Look at how matters were handled in the Church in the days of the Apostles, with this same spirit:
“Nor did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common,” and “there was not a needy person among them,” and “they distributed to each as anyone had need” (Acts 4:32–35).
In this way, the Church lived above the level of the law, managing the affairs of her children with love and contentment.
Today, we follow the civil law regarding inheritance.
However, it is possible to make arrangements before one of the parents dies.
For example, if a father finds that his children are financially secure and well-off, while his daughter is in need, he may, during his lifetime, legally transfer a portion of his property to her. In other words, he may relinquish a portion of his property through a lawful transaction registered with the Real Estate Registration Office. She then becomes the owner of that portion during his lifetime, and it is no longer considered part of the inheritance.
Alternatively, he may grant her the right of usufruct over a portion of the property, so that it becomes hers after his death, in addition to her legal share of the inheritance.
In other words, there are lawful ways of arranging matters to modify the heirs’ shares before the death of either parent.
Thus, matters can be resolved through love and contentment, through wisdom, or through proper legal arrangements that establish fairness among the heirs, rather than merely following the letter of the law.
