Hindu succession act

Dear Aditi,

Legal heirs are well defined in the Hindu Succession Act 1956 . All the relations are categorised into two classes called class I and class II. The first right on wealth is of Class I heirs. Only if there is no one available in Class I, then relations under Class II can claim their rights. If Class I & Class II both are missing , in then there is something called Agnates and Cognates , but we will talk about it in sometime. For now lets understand Class I & Class II heirs.

Class I relations 

• Son/Daughter
• Widow
• Mother

the act requires the division of the property as follows. the example will make it clear

Lets say Ajay is dead without a will and he has 5 people in his family

• Wife
• Two son
• One daughter
• Father

In that case his wife, 2 son and 1 daughter will come under Class I , but his father will come under Class II , in that case all the 4 people under class I will get equal share in his wealth. So Wife will get 25% of the wealth, First son will get 25% , second son will get 25% and daughter will also get 25% of the wealth (married or unmarried) .

hope you find this useful.

ANKIT