Legal Definitions - rule of universal inheritance

Definition: The rule of universal inheritance is also known as the universal-inheritance rule. It is a legal principle that states that when a person dies without leaving a will, their property will be inherited by their closest living relatives, such as their spouse, children, or parents.

Example: If a person dies without a will and has a spouse and two children, the rule of universal inheritance would dictate that the spouse and children would inherit the deceased person's property in equal shares.

Explanation: The rule of universal inheritance is important because it provides a default system for distributing property when a person dies without a will. Without this rule, it would be difficult to determine who should inherit the property, which could lead to disputes and legal battles among family members. The example illustrates how the rule works in practice by showing how the deceased person's property would be divided among their closest living relatives.