arveloven

Arveloven, commonly referred to as the Inheritance Act, is the primary Norwegian statute governing inheritance and succession. It regulates how a deceased person’s estate is distributed, both when there is a will and when there is not, and it sets out the framework for debt settlement, taxes, and the division of assets among heirs.

The act covers intestate (without a will) succession and testamentary dispositions. In intestate cases, the law establishes the order of succession among legal heirs, including descendants (such as children and grandchildren) and the surviving spouse. If there are descendants, they and the spouse generally acquire the estate according to the rules of the act; if there are no descendants, other relatives may inherit according to the statutory sequence. The act also provides protected or mandatory portions for certain close relatives, intended to prevent complete disinheritance by a will.

Testaments are permitted under the Arveloven, allowing individuals to distribute their assets beyond the strict rules of intestate succession, within the limits of the obligatory rights for close heirs. The law specifies formal requirements for validity, such as capacity, writing, and witnessing, and outlines protections for beneficiaries who might be vulnerable or minors.

Administration and division of the estate are governed by the act through processes for appointing executors and conducting skifte, the settlement and distribution of assets, debts, and claims among heirs. The Arveloven also interacts with other areas of law, including marriage and property regimes, to determine how marital property is treated in inheritance.

History and impact: The act has evolved to reflect changes in family structures and concepts of equality, while balancing the interests of descendants, spouses, and other relatives.