Can a live-in companion declare share in property?

My mom died virtually 15 years in the past. Since then, my father was residing along with his companion although they aren’t married. My father died not too long ago, however has left a will distributing all his property between my sister and me. My father’s companion is now difficult the need and claiming her share to the property, moreover the home the place she and my father lived. What will be accomplished on this scenario?

—Name withheld on request

The Supreme Court has , up to now few years, acknowledged the idea of live-in relationships, on a case-to-case foundation and in addition enumerated sure rights of individuals in such relationships. In sure instances, the apex court docket has dominated that kids born to companions in live-in relationships will be thought of respectable. But there isn’t a formal laws on the identical. Therefore, the rights of a feminine companion in a live-in relationship with respect to the property of her male companion are nonetheless unclear and ambiguous.

Regarding the problem to your father’s will by his live-in-partner, the onus of proving that the need isn’t real or whether or not she is entitled to take part and contest in a probate proceedings should be determined by the competent court docket.

You can contest her declare to any proper to the home. However, the onus of proving the declare with corroborative proof of a live-in companion should be probed by the court docket. It is right here within the court docket proceedings, the live-in companion should justify and show past cheap doubt her declare for a share in the home property.

My spouse and I are the joint house owners of a property. However, my spouse died intestate, abandoning all property to me and her sister and no lineal descendant. Can my spouse’s sister be entitled to the property of my spouse despite the fact that she is a international nationwide and a preferential inheritor of the intestate?

—Name withheld on request

There are two methods wherein an individual’s property devolves upon his authorized heirs after his dying. When an individual dies with out abandoning a will, the legal guidelines of intestate succession will apply. When an individual dies abandoning a will, the property is distributed as per the bequest/ needs made underneath the need i.e. testamentary succession to the named beneficiaries.

It is being assumed right here that your spouse left behind a Will. If the need is pure and real within the opinion of the court docket, then your spouse’s sister is entitled to the property bequeathed upon her , no matter whether or not she is a international nationwide.

The time period ‘preferential heir’ has not been outlined or defined in any statute in India pertaining to succession. However, the Hindu Succession Act offers for sophistication I and sophistication II heirs, amongst whom the property of the deceased shall devolve upon, in case she or he dies intestate. The class II heirs shall not be entitled to any a part of the property of the deceased in case any such class-I inheritor exists at that time of time. Therefore, class-I heirs have a choice over class-II heirs as per provisions of the Hindu Succession Act.

Aradhana Bhansali, Partner, Rajani Associates

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Updated: 16 Jul 2023, 10:27 PM IST

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