A will is read out, and your own name is missing. Instead, a sibling inherits everything, or the father\u2019s second wife, or someone else entirely. For those who have been passed over, this is often a double blow: first the loss, then the feeling of having been cut out of the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In legal terms, this situation is known as disinheritance, and it affects more people than the term might suggest. It is not only those who have been expressly removed from the will who are disinherited. Anyone who is simply not mentioned in the will, even though they would have been a statutory heir as a child or spouse, is also disinherited. However, close relatives do not usually end up with nothing. The law guarantees them a minimum share of the value of the estate, known as the compulsory portion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This page answers the most frequently asked questions following a disinheritance, covering everything from eligibility and the amount involved to time limits and tax. Where a topic requires more detail \u2013 such as the exact calculation or how to claim \u2013 a link takes you to a more detailed article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n