Hagyatéka

Hagyatéka refers to the estate left behind by a deceased person. In Hungarian law, hagyaték comprises both assets—such as real estate, bank accounts, investments, and personal belongings—and liabilities, including debts and taxes, as they stood at the moment of death. The term hagyaték is often used in the phrase hagyaték eljárás, the process by which the estate is identified, debts settled, and assets distributed to heirs.

The handling of hagyaték is governed primarily by civil-law rules. If the deceased left a will (végrendelet), the will directs how the estate should be distributed among beneficiaries. If there is no valid will, statutory rules of succession (öröklési rend) determine who inherits and in what shares. In all cases, debts and obligations of the deceased are generally settled from the hagyaték before any distribution to heirs. This means creditors have priority in the estate settlement.

Rights of heirs are also shaped by the concept of a forced portion, or kizáró rész, which provides a minimum share of the estate to close family members (such as a spouse and children) even if the deceased attempted to disinherit them through a will. The exact shares and permissible dispositions are defined in the Hungarian Civil Code and related inheritance laws.

The practical settlement of hagyaték typically involves identifying and valuing assets and liabilities, notifying authorities, paying debts and taxes where applicable, and transferring ownership of assets to rightful heirs. The process can be conducted through a hagyatéki eljárás, usually overseen by a public notary, with court involvement if disputes arise.