arverækkefølge

Arverækkefølge is the sequence in which relatives inherit a deceased person’s assets, according to law or a valid will. It determines who has a legal claim to the estate and in what order those claims are satisfied.

There are two main paths: intestate succession, when there is no will, and testamentary succession, when the deceased has written a will. In intestate cases, arverækkefølgen governs how the estate is distributed among eligible heirs; in testamentary cases, a will can modify the standard order within the limits of applicable law.

A typical framework places the closest descendants first—children and, if applicable, grandchildren—and these descendants usually share the estate. If there are no descendants, other categories come into play, such as the surviving spouse or registered partner who may be entitled to a portion, followed by parents or other ascendants, and then more distant relatives like siblings and their descendants. If no relatives can be found, the estate may go to the state.

The exact rules and shares depend on the jurisdiction. In Denmark, arverækkefølgen is defined by national inheritance law (Arveloven) and can be shaped by a will or by rights guaranteed to a surviving spouse or partner. The specific sequence and percentages are determined by current law and any valid testamentary provisions.

Overall, arverækkefølge provides a structured framework to resolve who inherits when someone dies, balancing familial ties, spousal rights, and the possibilities for testamentary directions.