perintöosuuksien

Perintöosuuksien refers to the concept of inheritance shares in Finnish law. When a person passes away, their assets are distributed among their heirs. Finnish inheritance law, governed by the Inheritance Act (Perintökaari), defines how these shares are calculated and who is entitled to them.

The primary heirs are typically the deceased's descendants, such as children. If there are no descendants, the inheritance passes to the deceased's parents. If the parents are also deceased, then the inheritance goes to their descendants, meaning the deceased's siblings. Further down the line, grandparents and their descendants may inherit.

The size of an heir's share is determined by their relationship to the deceased and the number of other heirs in the same or preceding order of inheritance. For example, children usually inherit equal shares. The surviving spouse also has specific rights, often entitled to inherit from the deceased spouse's estate, particularly if there are no descendants or under certain conditions if there are.

Disputes regarding inheritance shares can arise, and these are often resolved through a formal division of the estate (perunkirjoitus and ositus). This process involves listing all assets and debts, identifying the heirs, and calculating their respective shares. If an agreement cannot be reached, legal proceedings may be necessary. The concept of perintöosuuksien is fundamental to understanding how property and assets are transferred after death in Finland.