Järeltulijad

Järeltulijad is the Estonian term for heirs or descendants. It refers to people who inherit from a deceased person or who stand as successors within a family lineage. The concept can be used in both legal and genealogical contexts to denote those who carry forward a person’s rights, property, or legacy, including future generations.

In legal terms, järeltulijad are those entitled to inherit an estate when there is a will (testament) or when inheritance occurs under statutory rules. The typical group includes lineal descendants such as children and grandchildren, and, depending on the jurisdiction and the will, a surviving spouse or other relatives may also be included. The exact rights and order of succession are determined by Estonian inheritance law and the terms of any testament.

In genealogical and historical usage, järeltulijad denotes the descendants of a person or a family line. The term is commonly used in family trees, biographical writing, and archival materials to indicate continuations of a lineage across generations.

In contemporary practice, the concept remains relevant to estate planning, inheritance disputes, and the documentation of family history. It underscores concerns about continuity, the transmission of property, titles, and familial heritage from one generation to the next.