The ‘succession’ of family allotment gardens: remarks de lege lata and de lege ferenda

Abstract

Recently courts in Poland have been increasingly often confronted with the very interesting and legally equally complex problem of the “succession” of family allotment gardens (RODs). It appears that in relation to this asset important succession problems arise, having both a theoretical nature and great practical significance – namely an answer to two fundamental questions, as well as a few more precise ones: firstly, whether an allotment (including varieties and facilities) is a part of an estate, and, therefore, whether it is inherited in accordance with general principles, like any other asset; and secondly, whether a family allotment garden increases the basis for the calculation of legitim (i.e. legitim fund) for persons not mentioned in the last will and for that reason not inheriting. It appears that the answer to these questions causes great difficulties for the judiciary. Although the first question generally does not cause insurmountable interpretative problems (the issue was relatively clearly, although not directly, prejudged in the Act on family allotment gardens of 2005, and subsequently of 2013), the second question poses a real challenge even for a lawyer specialising in succession. The article deals with both questions as well as many
others which are their consequences. Not only are separate rules of the “succession” of family allotment
gardens presented (which should not be understood as a succession based on inheritance law), but also the claims of the heirs of the deceased person regarding the revocation of the right to the allotment and particularly the addressee of these claims. This latter problem is not obvious in the light of the current legal rules. The author also draws conclusions de lege ferenda. He proposes – among other things – prescribing the inheritance and transferability of family allotment gardens.