Arveretten

Arveretten, a term used in several Nordic languages, denotes the body of law governing the transfer of a deceased person's property to their heirs. It encompasses rules for both intestate succession (when someone dies without a will) and testamentary dispositions (how a will can allocate assets). The aim is to provide an orderly and predictable transfer of assets while balancing the interests of surviving relatives, spouses, and other potential heirs.

Key concepts include estate administration, probate procedures, and the validity and interpretation of wills and trusts. Many arveretten systems include a compulsory share or reserved portion that certain close heirs are entitled to receive, regardless of a decedent's testamentary wishes. This protection can limit the extent to which a person can freely dispose of their property. Rules typically cover the order of succession, the treatment of spouses, descendants, and, if necessary, parents or siblings, as well as the treatment of debts and taxes.

Because arveretten is part of civil-law traditions, the details vary by jurisdiction. Some countries emphasize stronger protections for immediate family members or spouses, while others grant broader testamentary freedom. In all cases, the law governs how estates are opened, valued, distributed, and settled, including procedures for challenges and clarifications of the will and the rights of heirs.

Contemporary issues include adapting arveretten to digital assets, cross-border estates, and changes in family structures, as well as reforms aimed at simplifying procedures and clarifying the balance between freedom of disposition and protection of forced heirs.