Between blood kinship and legal norms – rules of testamentary and statutory inheritance in Polish law and related family risks

Abstract

This article examines the impact of blood ties and family relations on the fundamental institutions of inheritance law, focusing on the principles of testate and intestate succession. The aim of the article is to systematize issues related to both the acquisition and renunciation of an inheritance by close relatives and related risks. Particular attention is devoted to the issue of renouncing an inheritance on behalf of minor children by their legal guardians. The article presents complex issues of inheritance law of clear, structured and accessible manne, addressing matters that concern almost every individual. Knowledge of these issues is of significant practical importance because in accordance with the latin maxim ignorantia iuris nocet (ignorance of the law is harmful), a lack of legal awareness may lead to serious and in some cases irreversible legal consequences. The article employs the doctrinal-legal method, which involves the analysis of legal provisions as well as the interpretation of case law and legal doctrine.