📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Pinakpani
National
Supreme Court to Recognise Children of Live-in Couples for Inheritance Rights
✍️ bhaskarenglish.in
🗓 03 Oct 2026, 02:02 AM
👁 15
The Supreme Court has ruled that children born out of live-in relationships will be treated as legal heirs, allowing parents to inherit in the absence of a will.
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has affirmed that children born from live-in relationships are entitled to legal recognition as heirs. The ruling clarifies that, when a deceased parent leaves no will, the surviving parent is entitled to a share of the estate, and the child from the live-in union is treated on par with children from a formal marriage.
The decision addresses a long‑standing gap in inheritance law, where children of non‑marital cohabitation often faced uncertainty regarding property rights. By extending the same succession rules to these children, the court aims to ensure equitable distribution of assets and reduce litigation.
Legal experts note that the verdict aligns with the Constitution's guarantee of equality and may prompt revisions in personal law statutes across the country. Families in live-in arrangements are expected to benefit from clearer legal safeguards, while courts will now apply the same inheritance framework irrespective of marital status.
The decision addresses a long‑standing gap in inheritance law, where children of non‑marital cohabitation often faced uncertainty regarding property rights. By extending the same succession rules to these children, the court aims to ensure equitable distribution of assets and reduce litigation.
Legal experts note that the verdict aligns with the Constitution's guarantee of equality and may prompt revisions in personal law statutes across the country. Families in live-in arrangements are expected to benefit from clearer legal safeguards, while courts will now apply the same inheritance framework irrespective of marital status.