Can Grandchildren Inherit Property Directly if Their Parent Has Passed Away?

In India, the inheritance rights of grandchildren, especially if their parent (the property owner's child) has passed away, depend on various factors, including the type of property (ancestral or self-acquired), the presence of a will, and the applicable succession laws.

Inheritance Rights of Grandchildren:

Inheritance under the Hindu Succession Act:

Under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, which governs the inheritance of Hindus, the general rule is that grandchildren do not inherit property directly from their grandparents unless their parent (the child of the property owner) has already passed away. In this case, the grandchildren may inherit their parent’s share of the property, subject to the laws of intestate succession or the terms of the will.

Ancestral Property: If the property is ancestral property, which is property inherited from ancestors up to four generations, grandchildren have the right to inherit directly from the grandfather or grandmother, as they are considered coparceners (joint heirs) in the ancestral property. Their rights are equal to those of their father (the child of the property owner), and they can claim their share of the ancestral property, even if their parent (the son or daughter) is deceased.

Self-Acquired Property: In the case of self-acquired property (property that was not inherited but acquired by the deceased), the grandchildren do not inherit directly from the deceased unless their parent has passed away. The property would typically go to the legal heirs, including the surviving spouse, children, and sometimes the grandchildren, depending on the circumstances.

Intestate Succession (Without a Will):

If the property owner dies intestate (without a will), the inheritance rights are governed by the Hindu Succession Act or the applicable personal laws. If the child of the deceased (the parent of the grandchildren) has predeceased the property owner, the grandchildren can inherit the share of the deceased parent. The grandchildren will then inherit the property in the same manner their parent would have if they were alive.

Inheritance Under a Will:

If the property owner has left a valid will, the inheritance will be distributed as per the terms of the will. If the will explicitly states that the grandchildren are to inherit the property, they will do so directly, even if their parent (the testator’s child) is deceased. However, if the will does not specifically mention the grandchildren, they will not inherit directly unless the parent of the grandchildren is alive.

Children’s Share: The grandchildren’s entitlement to property is closely tied to their parent’s rights. If their parent, the deceased child of the property owner, would have inherited a portion of the property had they been alive, the grandchildren inherit that portion in their place. This is often referred to as representation (the principle that children step into the shoes of their deceased parent).

Rights in Ancestral Property: In ancestral property, grandchildren have coparcenary rights (right to a share of the property) from birth. Even if their parent (the son or daughter of the property owner) is no longer alive, the grandchildren can inherit the property through the principles of coparcenary rights, as long as they were born during the existence of the coparcenary.

Grandchildren’s Rights in Muslim Law: Under Muslim law, the inheritance rights of grandchildren are different. In the case of intestate succession, grandchildren inherit through their deceased parent, as the Muslim inheritance law does not recognize direct inheritance from the grandparent unless specified in the will.

Example:

Ancestral Property: A Hindu man dies intestate, leaving behind a son and grandchildren from the son. If the son predeceased the father, the grandchildren (sons and daughters of the deceased son) would inherit the share their father would have received from their grandfather’s ancestral property. The grandchildren are entitled to their deceased parent’s share, and they become coparceners in the family property.

Self-Acquired Property: If the deceased person owned self-acquired property, and the deceased person’s son (the father of the grandchildren) has already passed away, the grandchildren cannot inherit the property directly unless the father had made a will stating that his share would go to his children. If no will exists, the property would go to the surviving spouse and the remaining children of the deceased, not directly to the grandchildren.

Conclusion:

In India, grandchildren can inherit property directly only in certain situations. If the property is ancestral, they may inherit a share in the event that their parent (the child of the property owner) has passed away. For self-acquired property, grandchildren generally inherit only through their deceased parent’s share, depending on the existence of a will or the application of intestate succession laws.