Can a son-in-law get a share in his father-in-law's property? What does Indian law say?

In India, disputes over daughters' rights to their father's property are common. If you, as a son-in-law, are thinking of claiming a share in your father-in-law's property, learn about this Indian law.

In India, disputes over daughters' rights to their father's property are common. Sometimes these cases reach court, while others are suppressed within the family. In such a situation, have you ever wondered what would happen if a son-in-law claimed a share in his father-in-law's property? You may not have even considered this.

In India, the relationship between a son-in-law and a father-in-law has always been considered like that of a father and a son, but when it comes to property, a son-in-law cannot claim rights to his father-in-law's property. This is not our opinion, but Indian law. In fact, this applies to all religions: a son-in-law has no direct share in his father-in-law's property, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Christian. Therefore, before claiming your father-in-law's will, carefully understand these rules and regulations.

What is the Hindu Succession Law?

The Hindu Succession Act 1956 specifies how a person's property will be distributed, that is, how his property will be distributed among his children if he dies. This law also reduces the number of property-related disputes and ensures that all heirs have equal rights.

Why doesn't a son-in-law get a share?

According to the Indian Succession Law, only ancestral property is divided. Furthermore, this law includes a list of legal heirs, which describes Class 1 and Class 2 heirs. Class 1 includes people close to the individual, such as his wife, son, daughter, etc., while Class 2 often includes those who are distant relatives. However, the son-in-law's name is not included in either list, meaning he has no direct share in his father-in-law's property. However, if a daughter inherits a share in her father's property, the son-in-law can claim it through his wife.

Will or Gift is Another Way

You may have often seen fathers gift property to their sons-in-law at the time of their daughters' marriage. In such cases, if the father-in-law makes a will in the name of his son-in-law, the son-in-law has full rights over the property, and it legally becomes his. However, even after this, it is essential to register the property as a gift deed. It is entirely up to the father-in-law to decide whether to gift the property to his son-in-law or not.

The law is the same for other religions as well.

No, Indian inheritance law does not apply equally to all religions. If the father-in-law is Muslim, everything is decided according to Sharia law. According to Sharia law, the father-in-law can only give 1/3 of the property to his son-in-law. Furthermore, in Christianity, like Hinduism, the division of inheritance is done through wills, and the son-in-law has no rights. The son-in-law can only claim property inherited from his wife and property received as gifts.