Estates of Deceased Persons Bill, second reading
24 January 2011 (updated on 24 January 2011)
Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire introduced the second reading of the Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons on Friday 21 January.
Estates of Deceased Persons Bill
The Bill, which is supported by the government, passed without a vote and will now be considered by a Public Bill Committee.
- Watch the debate: Estates of Deceased Persons Bill
- Commons Hansard: Estates of Deceased Persons Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill
About the Bill
The Bill gives general effect, with modifications, to the recommendations of the Law Commission in its 2005 report, 'The Forfeiture Rule and the Law of Succession' and would, in certain circumstances, protect the inheritance rights of the descendants of people who have:
- forfeited their inheritance by killing the deceased; or
- decided not to accept their own inheritance.
- Law Commission 2005 report: The Forteiture Rule and the Law of Succession (PDF 385 KB)
- Law Commission (external website)
Private Members' Bills
Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Members of the Lords who aren't government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population.