Legal Definitions - aditio

aditio

Aditio is a historical term that refers to an outsider's informal acceptance of inheritance. This means that someone who is not a direct family member may be recognized as an heir to a person's property or possessions.

For example, if a wealthy person dies without any living relatives, a close friend or business partner may be granted aditio and inherit their estate. Another example could be if a person has a child out of wedlock, that child may be granted aditio and inherit from their biological parent's estate.

These examples illustrate how aditio was used in the past to recognize non-traditional heirs and ensure that property and possessions were passed down to someone who had a close relationship with the deceased, even if they were not a direct family member.