universal succession

Universal succession is a legal principle, originating in Roman law, where an heir inherits the totality of a deceased person's estate, including both rights and liabilities. This means the heir essentially steps into the shoes of the deceased, becoming responsible for their debts as well as inheriting their assets. This concept is distinct from singular succession, which involves inheriting only specific assets.123

In civil law systems, the heir is considered the same person as the deceased for the purpose of succession. While this can be a harsh rule, heirs can often limit their liability to the value of the inherited assets by following specific legal procedures, such as creating an inventory of the estate. This contrasts with common law systems, where inheritance rules have developed differently, often focusing more on kinship and the rights of the surviving spouse.1245