DEVOLUTION OF AN ESTATE
Section 1599. When a person dies, his estate devolves on the heirs.
An heir may lose his right to the succession only under the provisions of this Code or other laws.
Section 1600. Subject to the provisions of this Code, the estate of a deceased includes his properties of every kind, as well as his rights, duties and liabilities, except those which by law or by their nature are purely personal to him.
Section 1601. An heir shall not be liable in excess of the property devolving on him.
Section 1602. When a person is deemed to have died under the provisions of Section 62* of this Code shall, the estate devolves on the heirs.
If it is proved that such person is living or that he died at a time different from that specified in the adjudication of disappearance, the provisions of Section 63* of this Code shall apply as regards his heirs.
Section 1603. An estate devolves on the heirs by statutory right or by will.
Heirs who are so entitled by law are called ‘statutory heirs’.
Heirs who are entitles by will are called ‘legatees’.
[*Amended by section 15 Act Promulgating the Revised Provisions of Book I of the Civil and Commercial Code B.E. 2535]
CHAPTER II
HEIRSHIP
Section 1604. A natural person can be an heir only when he has, at the time of the de cujes death, personality or is capable of rights under Section 15 of this Code.
For the purpose of this section, a child shall be deemed to have been en ventre sa mere at the time of such death if he is born or alive within three hundred and ten days after such time.
Section 1605. An heir who, fraudulently or with the knowledge that he prejudices any other heirs, diverts or conceal property up to or in excess of his share in the succession, shall be absolutely excluded from the succession; if he diverts or conceals less than his share in the succession, he shall be excluded from the succession up to the extent of the part so diverted or concealed.
This section does not apply to a legatee to whom a specific property has been bequeathed, in so far as his right to receive such property is concerned.
Section 1606. The following are excluded from succession as being unworthy:
(1) the person who is convicted by a final judgment of having wrongfully and intentionally caused the death or attempted to cause the death of the de cujus or of a person having prior right to the succession;
(2) the person who, having prosecuted the de cujes for having committed an offence punishable with death, has himself been convicted by a final judgment for bringing a false charge or for fabricating false evidence.
(3) the person who, having knowledge that the de cujes was murdered, did not give information thereof for the purpose of bringing the offender to punishment; but this does not apply if he has not completed sixteen years of age, or if he is unsound mind so as to be unable to distinguish between right and wrong, or if the murderer is his spouse or any of his direct ascendants or descendants;
(4) the person who, by fraud or duress, has caused the de cujes to make, revoke or change partly or wholly a will concerning the estate or has prevented him from so doing;
(5) the person who, has partly or wholly forged, destroyed or concealed a will.
The de cujes may remove the exclusion due to unworthiness by a pardon in writing.
Section 1607. The effects of exclusion from the succession are personal. The descendants of the excluded heir succeed as if such heir were dead, nut as regards the property so devolved, the excluded heir has no right of management and enjoyment as specified in Book V title II Chapter III of this Code. In such case Section 1548 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
CHAPTER III
DISINHERINTANCE
Section 1608. A de cujus may disinherit any of his statutory heirs only by an express declaration of intention,
(1) by will
(2) by writing deposited with the competent official.
The identity of the disinherited heir must be clearly stated.
However, when a person has distributed all his estate by will, all his statutory heirs who are not beneficiaries under the will are deemed to be disinherited.
Section 1609. A declaration of disinheritance may be revoked.
If the disinheritance has been made by will, the revocation may be made only by will; but if the disinheritance has been made in writing deposited with the competent official, such revocation may be made either from prescribed in Section 1608 (1) or (2).
CHAPTER IV
RENUNCIATION OF AN ESTATE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1610. When an estate devolves on a minor, or a person of unsound mind, or on a person incapable of managing his own affairs within the meaning of Section 32* of this Code, and such person has not already had a legal representative or custodian or curator, the court shall appoint a guardian, custodian or curator as the case may be, on application of any interested person or of the Public Prosecutor.
[* Amended by Section 15 Act Promulgation the Revised Provisions of Book I of the Civil and Commercial Code (B.E. 2535)]
1611. An heir who is a minor, a person of unsound mind, or a person incapable of managing his own affairs within the meaning of 32* this Code, cannot, except with the consent of his parents, guardian, custodian or curator as the case may be and with the approval of the Court, do the following acts:
(1) renounce and inheritance or refuse legacy
(2) accept an inheritance or legacy encumbered with a charge or condition.
[* Amended by Section 15 Act Promulgation the Revised Provisions of Book I of the Civil and Commercial Code (B.E. 2535)]
Section 1612. Renunciation of an inheritance or refusal of a legacy shall be made by an express declaration of intention in writing deposited with the competent official, or by a contract of compromise.
Section 1613. Renunciation of an inheritance or refusal of a legacy cannot be merely for a part or made subject to a condition or time clause.
Renunciation of an inheritance or refusal of a legacy cannot be revoked.
Section 1614. In an heir in any way renounces an inheritance or refuses a legacy with the knowledge that in so doing he prejudices his creditor, the creditor is entitled to claim cancellation of such renunciation or refusal; but this does not apply if the person enriched by such act did not know, at the time of the renunciation or refusal, of the facts which would make it prejudicial to the creditor; provided, however, that the case of renunciation or refusal made gratuitously, the knowledge on the part of the heir alone is sufficient.
After cancellation of the renunciation or refusal, the creditor may apply to the Court for authorization to accept the inheritance or legacy in the stead and by the right to such heir.
In such case, after payment to the creditor of such heir, the remainder, if any, of his share in the estate shall accrue to his descendants or to the other heirs of the de cujus as the case may be.
Section 1615. The renunciation of an inheritance or refusal of a legacy by an heir relates back, as regards its effect, to the time of the death of the de cujus.
When renunciation is made by any statutory heir, his descendants, provided they are not persons in whose name a valid renunciation has been made on behalf by their parents, guardians or custodians as the case may be, shall succeed under their own rights and shall be entitled to the portion equal to the share which would have devolved on the renouncer.
Section 1616. If the descendants of the renouncer have acquired inheritance as provided in Section 1615, as regards the property so inherited by his descendants, the renouncer has no right of management and enjoyment as specified in Book V Title II Chapter III of this Code, and Section 1548 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Section 1617. If any person refuses a legacy, neither such person nor his descendants are entitled to receive the legacy so refused.
Section 1618. If a renunciation is made by a statutory heir who has no descendant to inherit or if a refusal is made by a legatee, the part of the estate so renounced or refused shall be distributed to the other heirs of the de cujus.
Section 1619. A person cannot renounce or otherwise dispose of the rights which he may contingently have to the succession of a living person.