Family Property Dispute
1 year ago
There is a house owned by my MIL currently resided by MIL and My husband Brother.
This property originally was purchased by Grand father in law in name of Grand Mother in law
Property got redeveloped and was transferred (any gift deed I am not aware) in the name of my MIL ( Development cost borne by my husband, however no evidence available as payment was made in cash)
Now My MIL denies my husband's share in the property? Can she deny my husbands right in property
(a) firstly, upon the sons and daughters (including the children of any pre-deceased son or daughter) and the husband;
(b) secondly, upon the heirs of the husband;
(c) thirdly, upon the mother and father;
(d) fourthly, upon the heirs of the father; and
(e) lastly, upon the heirs of the mother.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),—
(a) any property inherited by a female Hindu from her father or mother shall devolve, in the absence of any son or daughter of the deceased (including the children of any pre-deceased son or daughter) not upon the other heirs referred to in sub-section (1) in the order specified therein, but upon the heirs of the father; and
(b) any property inherited by a female Hindu from her husband or from her father-in-law shall devolve, in the absence of any son or daughter of the deceased (including the children of any pre-deceased son or daughter) not upon the other heirs referred to in sub-section (1) in the order specified therein, but upon the heirs of the husband.
The grandsons or granddaughters have no right to inherit or claim any portion of their grandfather's or grandmother's property if their own father or mother is still alive. So, after your mother in law dies, the property will have to be shared with your husband and you brother in law.
A.Dear Sir,
Your husband is having a share in the said property because it is outcome of income of your grandfather’s property.
Section 8 of Hindu Succession Act:
General rules of succession in the case of males.―The property of a male Hindu dying intestate
shall devolve according to the provisions of this Chapter:―
(a) firstly, upon the heirs, being the relatives specified in class I of the Schedule;
CLASS I
Son; daughter; widow; mother; son of a pre-deceased son; daughter of a pre-deceased son; son of a pre-deceased daughter; daughter of a pre-deceased daughter; widow of a pre-deceased son; son of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son; daughter of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son; widow of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son.
Distribution of Property after Death – Hindu Male
For Hindus, testamentary succession (succession by way of Will) is as per the Indian Succession Act and intestate succession (succession without Will) is as per the Hindu Succession Act. In this article, we look in detail the process for distribution of property after death of a Hindu male as per the Hindu Succession Act.
Class 1 Heirs
The Hindu Succession Act groups the heirs of a male Hindu into four categories and lays down that his/her inheritable property devolves firstly upon the heirs specified in Class I which are as under:
• Sons
• Daughters
• Widow
• Mother
• Son of a pre-deceased son
• Daughter of a pre-deceased son
• Son of a pre-deceased daughter
• Daughter of a pre-deceased daughter
• Widow of a pre-deceased son
• Son of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son
• Daughter of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son
• Widow of a pre-deceased son of a pre-deceased son
• Son of a predeceased daughter of a predeceased daughter
• Daughter of a deceased daughter of a predeceased daughter
• Daughter of a predeceased son of a predeceased daughter
• Daughter of a predeceased daughter of predeceased son
All these heirs inherit simultaneously and to the exclusion of other heirs. In the absence of any of the heirs in this category, the property devolves upon the enumerated heirs specified in class II.
Class 2 Heirs
The devolution in Class II heirs is made in the absence of any heir in Class I and in such a manner that heirs specified in a particular entry share equally. For this purpose if more than one heir is specified in a single entry, they share the property simultaneously and equally to the exclusion of those specified in subsequent entries. Class 2 heirs include:
• Father
• Sons daughter’s son
• Sons daughter’s daughter
• Brother
• Sister
• Daughters son’s son
• Daughters son’s daughter
• Daughters daughter’s son
• Daughters Daughter’s daughter
• Brothers son
• Sisters son
• Brothers daughter
• Sisters daughter
• Fathers father
• Fathers mother
• Fathers widow
• Brothers widow
• Fathers brother
• Fathers sister
• Mothers father
• Mothers mother
• Mothers brother
• Mothers sister
Agnates
In case a Hindu male passes away intestate and leaves no class 1 or class 2 heirs, then the property would devolve on agnates. A person is said to be an agnate of another if the two are related by blood or adoption wholly through males. Agnate relationship does not extend to relationship by marriage and is restricted to relationship by blood. Also, agnate does not include widows of lineal descendants of the intestate.
Cognates
If a Hindu male passes away without a Will and has no class 1 or class 2 heirs or agnates, then the succession would be through cognates. Cognates are ones who are related to the intestate by blood or adoption but not wholly, through males. Thus mother’s brother’s son and brother’s daughters son are cognates, eligible for heirship.