The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for IAD-LAW-1

May 9, 2024, 2:54 p.m.
Countries: Sweden
Variables: LO-PRACTICE-1, LO-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Women have the same legal status and rights as men, including under family, religious, personal status, labor, property, nationality, and inheritance law. The government enforced the laws effectively" (14).
May 2, 2024, 8:34 p.m.
Countries: Suriname
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"TWEEDE AFDELING VAN DE ORDE DER ERFOPVOLGING Artikel 880427 De kinderen of hun afstammelingen erven van hun ouders, grootouders, of verdere bloedverwanten in de opgaande linie, zonder onderscheid van kunne of eerstgeboorte. Zij erven voor gelijke delen bij hoofden, wanneer zij allen in de eersten graad zijn, en uit eigen hoofde geroepen worden; zij erven bij staken, wanneer zij allen, of een gedeelte van hen, bij plaatsvervulling opkomen" (179). SECTION 2426 OF THE ORDER OF SUCCESSION Item 880427 The children or their descendants inherit from their parents, grandparents, or further descendants blood relatives in the ascending line, without distinction of sex or primogeniture. They inherit equally by heads, if they...more
April 30, 2024, 6:23 p.m.
Countries: United States
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"The property of a decedent not disposed of by will shall be distributed as provided in this section. In computing said distribution, debts, administration expenses and reasonable funeral expenses shall be deducted but all estate taxes shall be disregarded, except that nothing contained herein relieves a distributee from contributing to all such taxes the amounts apportioned against him or her under 2-1.8. Distribution shall then be as follows: (a) If a decedent is survived by: (1) A spouse and issue, fifty thousand dollars and one-half of the residue to the spouse, and the balance thereof to the issue by representation. (2) A spouse and no issue, the whole to the...more
April 30, 2024, 6:17 p.m.
Countries: United States
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Inheritance refers to property acquired through the laws of descent and distribution. Though sometimes used in reference to property acquired through a will, the legal meaning of inheritance includes only property that descends to an heir through intestacy, when a person has died intestate. Any part of a person’s estate not disposed of by a valid will or trust is overseen by a probate court following each state’s laws of intestate succession. Generally, only a decedent’s spouse and relatives are entitled to an inheritance. A living spouse is usually entitled to the largest share of the estate, or the entirety if a decedent had no children. In the event a...more
April 24, 2024, 12:53 p.m.
Countries: Switzerland
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Art. 457. 1 The nearest heirs of a deceased person are his or her issue. 2 Children inherit in equal parts. 3 Predeceased children are replaced by their own issue in all degrees per stirpes" (148). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1910) relating to daughter's inheritance rights are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (AMC - CODER COMMENT).
April 24, 2024, 12:20 p.m.
Countries: Spain
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Article 807. The following persons are forced heirs: 1. Children and descendants in respect of their parents and ascendants; 2. In the absence of the foregoing, the parents and ascendants in respect of their children and descendants; 3. The widower or widow in the manner and to the extent set forth in this Code. Article 808 Two thirds of the estate of the father and mother constitute the reserved share corresponding to children and descendants. The aforesaid notwithstanding, parents may dispose of one of the two thirds which form the reserved share, to apply it as betterment in favour of their children or descendants. If any of the children or...more
April 19, 2024, 9:59 p.m.
Countries: Romania
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"The reserved portion of the succession is the part of the inheritance to which forced heirs (surviving spouse, descendants, and privileged ascendants – parents of the deceased) are entitled, even against the wishes of the deceased. The reserved portion for each forced heir is half of the share which would have been due to them as an heir at law, in the absence of any liberalities or disinheritance in the will" (12).
April 18, 2024, 5:54 p.m.
Countries: Ukraine
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Article 1261. First Priority Legal Heirs 1. The first priority legal heirs shall be the testator's children, including those conceived in the lifetime and born after death of the testator, the survivor spouse, and the parents" (10). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database relating to women’s inheritance rights are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (AMC - CODER COMMENT).
April 18, 2024, 1:59 p.m.
Countries: Zambia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1, POLY-LAW-1

"5. (1) Subject to sections eight, nine, ten and eleven the estate of an intestate shall be distributed as follows: Distribution of estate (a) twenty per cent of the estate shall devolve upon the surviving spouse; except that where more than one widow survives the intestate, twenty per cent of the estate shall be distributed among them proportional to the duration of their respective marriages to the deceased, and other factors such as the widow's contribution to the deceased's property may be taken into account when justice so requires; (b) fifty per cent of the estate shall devolve upon the children in such proportions as are commensurate with a child's...more
April 18, 2024, 10:03 a.m.
Countries: Peru
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Article 818.- Equal inheritance rights of children. All children have equal inheritance rights with respect to their parents. This provision includes matrimonial children, extramarital children recognized voluntarily or declared by judgment, regarding the inheritance of the father or mother and their relatives, and adopted children...Article 825.- Exclusive succession of the spouse. If the deceased has not left descendants or ascendants with the right to inherit, the inheritance corresponds to the surviving spouse" (159-161). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database relating to women’s inheritance rights are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law...more
April 17, 2024, 12:49 p.m.
Countries: Trinidad/Tobago
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"If the intestate— (1) leaves— (a) no issue; and (b) no parent, or brother or sister of the whole blood, or issue of a brother or sister of the whole blood the estate shall be held in trust for the surviving spouse absolutely. (2) (a) leaves one child (whether or not persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) above also survive); the surviving spouse shall take one-half absolutely of the estate and the other half shall be held on the statutory trusts for the child. (b) leaves more than one child (whether or not persons mentioned in subparagraph (b) above also survive) the surviving spouse shall take one-third of the estate absolutely...more
April 17, 2024, 12:39 p.m.
Countries: Turkey
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Item 495- The first-order heirs of the inheritance are his descendants. Children are equally heirs. Children who have died before the inheritance are replaced by their altars through succession at all levels" (100).
April 17, 2024, 11:47 a.m.
Countries: Sudan
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1, POLY-LAW-1

"Ordained shares of the husband 356. The husband inherits by ordained shares - (a) one-half of the estate, in the absence of an inheriting descendant; at all; (b) one-quarter of the estate in the presence of an inheriting descendant, at all. Ordained shares of the wife 357. (1) The wife inherits by ordained shares- (a) one-quarter of the estate, in the absence of an inheriting descendant, at all; (b) one-eighth, of the estate, in the presence of an inheriting descendant, at all; (2) Where wives are several, the ordained share shall equally be divided among them...Cases of the daughter inheritance 359. The daughter inherits - (a) one-half of the estate...more
April 17, 2024, 11:28 a.m.
Countries: Slovenia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Inheritance by law comes into play when the will of the testator is not expressed in the will. The law clearly determines who takes precedence in inheritance by determining the successive succession orders. As a general rule, those who are closest to the testator are given priority in succession. Thus in the first hereditary order are the descendants of the decedent and his spouse. In the second and third hereditary order, the more distant relatives. Insofar as there are heirs in the first hereditary order, heirs from other hereditary orders will not be entitled to inheritance. Heirs over entry rights have priority over the rest of the hereditary ranks. In...more
April 7, 2024, 7:35 p.m.
Countries: Papua New Guinea
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"(1) Subject to this section and to Sections 82 and 83, where a person dies intestate– (a) if the intestate leaves a widow or widower–she or he is entitled, if the intestate leaves issue, to one-third or, if the intestate leaves no issue, to one-half of the estate; and (b) if the intestate leaves a father and a mother but no widow or widower or issue–the estate shall be distributed equally between the father and the mother, and in the case of the latter for her own use; and (c) if the intestate leaves a widow or widower a father and a mother but no issue–one-half of the estate shall...more
April 7, 2024, 6:38 p.m.
Countries: Senegal
Variables: IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"In dual systems such as in Senegal, where statutory law and Sharia law co-exist, the Senegalese citizens have the liberty to choose which regime they adhere to; otherwise, it is the statutory law that is applicable. While the Sharia law gives girls half the amount the son receives and the widow a quarter of the inheritance, the statutory Senegalese law makes no distinction between boys and girls during inheritance. Despite the fact that the statutory law is affirmative of equal inheritance irrespective of gender, it is essential to point out that in countries such as Senegal, where a majority of the population is Muslim, religion has a greater impact than...more
April 4, 2024, 5:08 p.m.
Countries: Yemen
Variables: IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Inheritance: The Personal Status Code defines the rules of inheritance, which follow Sharia principles. Women have a right to inheritance, but in many cases receive less than men. A daughter receives half the share that a son receives" (2).
April 2, 2024, 5:44 p.m.
Countries: Russia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Article 1141. General Provisions 1. Legal heirs shall be called upon to inherit in compliance with the priority ranking set out in Articles 1142 - 1145 and 1148 of the present Code. The heirs of each next category shall inherit if there are no heirs of the preceding categories, i.e. if there are no heirs of the preceding categories or if neither of them are entitled to inherit or if all of them have been barred from inheritance (Article 1117), or deprived of inheritance (Item 1 Article 1119), if neither of them have accepted inheritance or if all of them have disclaimed inheritance. 2. Heirs of one category shall inherit...more
April 2, 2024, 1:03 p.m.
Countries: Philippines
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Art. 978. Succession pertains, in the first place, to the descending direct line. (930). Art. 979. Legitimate children and their descendants succeed the parents and other ascendants, without distinction as to sex or age, and even if they should come from different marriages. An adopted child succeeds to the property of the adopting parents in the same manner as a legitimate child. (931a). Art. 980. The children of the deceased shall always inherit from him in their own right, dividing the inheritance in equal shares (932)" (235). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1949) relating to daughters' inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and...more
March 25, 2024, 3:53 p.m.
Countries: Zimbabwe
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

According to the "Women, Business, and the Law" database (2022), sons and daughters have equal rights to inherit assets from their parents. The WBL database cites the following as the source: Deceased Estates Succession Act, Sec. 3b(II). (2).
March 22, 2024, 12:08 p.m.
Countries: Syria
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Male heirs receive double the share of inheritance as female heirs, though only when they have an equal degree of kinship, such as brothers and sisters. However, this rule does not apply in other cases. Women may indeed inherit more than men in a number of cases, such as when a woman dies and leaves behind a husband, two parents and two daughters. In this case, her daughters receive two thirds of the inheritance, her husband one fourth and each of her parents one sixth. If the deceased woman had only one daughter, then the daughter would receive half the inheritance. And in some cases, women may inherit while men...more
March 22, 2024, 12:04 p.m.
Countries: Syria
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Among the differences between Personal Status Law No. 59 of 1953 and the personal status laws upheld by Syria’s various sects is the mechanism for determining the amount of inheritance each inheritor is entitled to receive. All of the special sect-related laws adhere to the rule of equal inheritance between female and male heirs, while Law No. 59 uses the principle of “double inheritance” – that is, male heirs receive double the inheritance of female heirs who share the same degree of kinship, such as brothers and sisters" (para 6).
Jan. 16, 2024, 6:33 p.m.
Countries: Botswana
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"The courts of Botswana take matters that seem to be discriminatory against women seriously as it was declared by Dingake J in the Appeal case of Molefi Silabo Ramantele v. Edith M. Mmusi and Others in which he declared that “the Ngwaketse customary law rule that provides that only the last born son is qualified as instate heir to the exclusion of his female siblings is ultra vires Section 3 of the Constitution of Botswana in that it violates the respondents’ rights to equal protection of the law” (10). "In the Ramantele case, the court noted, 'A customary rule that denies those children [a woman] of a deceased parent who...more
Jan. 8, 2024, 4:12 p.m.
Countries: Guinea
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Article 667: Ont vocation héréditaire les personnes qui, par le mariage ou la parenté, se trouvent être les plus proches du défunt auquel elles ont survécu...Article 672 : La proximité de parenté s’établit par le nombre de générations, chaque génération s’appelle un degré. La suite des degrés forme la ligne : On appelle ligne directe la suite des degrés entre personnes qui descendent l’une de l’autre ; ligne collatérale, la suite des degrés entre personnes qui ne descendent pas les unes des autres, mais qui descendent d’un auteur commun. On distingue la ligne directe descendante et la ligne directe ascendante. La première est celle qui lie le chef avec ceux...more
Nov. 14, 2023, 9:38 p.m.
Countries: Cote D'Ivoire
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Section 3 Orders of successors Art. 26.— The children or their descendants and the surviving spouse succeed the deceased. Three-quarters of the estate goes to the children or their descendants and a quarter to the surviving spouse. In the absence of a surviving spouse, the children or their descendants alone succeed the deceased. Art. 27.— In the absence of children and descendants of the children, half of the estate is reserved for the father and mother of the deceased, the other half for the surviving spouse. In the absence of a surviving spouse, half of the estate goes to the father and mother, the other half to the brothers and...more
Sept. 28, 2023, 10:28 a.m.
Countries: Pakistan
Variables: LO-LAW-1, ATDW-PRACTICE-1, ATDW-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Women faced legal and economic discrimination. The law prohibits discrimination based on sex, but authorities did not enforce it. Women also faced discrimination in employment, family law, property law, and the judicial system. Family law provides protection for women in cases of divorce, including requirements for maintenance, and sets clear guidelines for custody of minor children and their maintenance. Many women were unaware of these legal protections or were unable to obtain legal counsel to enforce them. Divorced women often were left with no means of support, as their families ostracized them. Women are legally free to marry without family consent, but society frequently ostracized women who did so, or...more
Sept. 22, 2023, 11:56 a.m.
Countries: Nigeria
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"'No matter the circumstances of the birth of a female child, such a child is entitled to an inheritance from her late father’s estate. Consequently the Igbo customary law which disentitles a female child from partaking, in the sharing of her deceased father’s estate is in breach of Section 42 (1) and (2) of the Constitution, a fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian. The said discriminatory customary law is void as it conflicts with Section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution.' This decision settled beyond all doubts, the fundamental right of a female to participate in the inheritance of her deceased father’s estate. The judgment of the Court in...more
Sept. 13, 2023, 9:13 a.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: IAD-LAW-1

"Daughters, subject to observation of provision of Article (2019) of this Law, shall be entitled to inheritance as follows: 1 – One daughter shall be entitled to half of the inheritance; two or more shall be entitled to two thirds. 2 – Daughters of son, if they do not have daughter or daughter of son, who is higher than her in degree, shall be entitled to the inheritance stated in the above Item. Daughters of son, one or more, in case of existence of daughter or daughter of son who are higher than her in degree, shall be entitled to one sixth of the inheritance" (265). "(1) The residuary due...more
Sept. 8, 2023, 3:54 p.m.
Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"In the intestate succession, neither the sex nor the primogeniture" (109). "The following are called to the intestate succession: 1º The legitimate descendants of the deceased. 2º Their legitimate ancestors. 3º The legitimate collaterals. 4th The natural children or natural grandchildren. 5º Their natural parents or natural grandparents. 6º The natural brothers. 7º The surviving spouse. 8º The municipalities. The order of succession is that indicated in the subsequent title" (109-110). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1904) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for...more
Sept. 8, 2023, 2:04 p.m.
Countries: Netherlands
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"1. By law the following heirs are successively called to the estate of the deceased in order to inherit his property: a. the not legally separated spouse of the deceased together with the deceased’s children; b. if none of the under point (a) mentioned persons exist: the parents of the deceased together with the deceased’s brothers and sisters; c. if none of the under point (a) and (b) mentioned persons exist: the grandparents of the deceased; d. if none of the under point (a) (b) and (c) mentioned persons exist: the great-grandparents of the deceased" (art. 10). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2012) relating to...more