Perittävälle

Perittävälle is a Finnish legal term referring to the deceased person whose estate is subject to inheritance. The estate comprises all of the deceased's assets and liabilities at the time of their death. The process of distributing this estate is known as inheritance or succession.

When a person dies, their perittävälle's assets, such as property, money, and possessions, are inventoried. Any outstanding debts or obligations of the perittävälle are also identified. The distribution of the estate is typically governed by Finnish law, which dictates how the assets are to be divided among the heirs.

Finnish inheritance law distinguishes between intestate succession (when there is no will) and testamentary succession (when there is a valid will). In intestate succession, the law specifies a hierarchy of heirs, usually starting with the spouse and children. If there are no immediate relatives, the inheritance may pass to more distant family members or, in some cases, to the state.

If the perittävälle has left a will, its provisions generally take precedence, provided they comply with the law. The will outlines how the perittävälle wishes their estate to be distributed, who should inherit specific assets, and who the executor of the will should be.

The administration of an estate involves several legal steps, including the notification of heirs, the inventory of assets and debts, and the formal distribution. This process ensures that the perittävälle's affairs are settled in accordance with legal requirements and their expressed wishes, if a will exists. The heirs are then responsible for managing and dividing the inherited assets according to the law or the will.