Jäämistöositus

Jäämistöositus refers to the division of an estate among heirs in Finnish inheritance law. When a person passes away, their assets, including property, money, and possessions, become their estate. This estate is then distributed to the legal heirs according to the provisions of the Finnish Inheritance Act.

The process typically begins with the determination of the deceased's legal heirs. These are usually the surviving spouse and descendants, followed by parents and siblings, and then other relatives if no closer heirs exist. If the deceased left a will, it generally takes precedence over the statutory inheritance order, provided it is legally valid.

A formal inventory of the estate, known as "ositus" (division), is conducted. This process aims to divide the assets fairly among the heirs. If there is a surviving spouse, an "ositus" is often performed to divide the joint marital property. The surviving spouse is entitled to their share of the marital property, and the remaining property forms the deceased's estate to be inherited.

After the inventory, a formal division of the estate, or "perinnönjako," takes place. This can be done amicably by the heirs themselves or through a court-appointed administrator if disagreements arise. The heirs receive their respective shares of the estate, which can be in the form of assets or their monetary value. Finnish inheritance law aims to ensure a just and orderly transfer of assets from the deceased to their heirs.