Report on Succession

This Report focuses on two main areas: first, the distribution of intestate estates, particularly in relation to a surviving spouse, civil partner or cohabitant; and, secondly, the protection of close relatives (including a surviving spouse, civil partner or cohabitant) from disinheritance by the deceased. Although the 1990 Report ( Report on Succession (Scot Law Com No 124) , ISBN 9780102113907), made recommendations on both of these topics the Scottish Law Commission think that it is timely to reconsider them. This is in large part because of developments both in Scottish society and in relevant areas of the law since 1990. For instance, many more people are cohabiting, either in same-sex or opposite-sex relationships. Step-families are becoming more common. People are living much longer so that many children are middle-aged or older when their parents die, leading to difficult questions about the protection to be afforded to children who are adults at the time of the parent’s death. And wealth is more widely distributed, particularly through increased ownership of heritable property. The Report is divided into eight parts and looks in detail at the following ares: Intestate Succession; Protection from Disinheritance; Cohabitation; Private international law; Testamentary documents and special destinations. There is an introduction and an examination of other miscellaneous matters along with a list of recommendations.