What is the difference between succession and inheritance?

Succession and inheritance are two processes related to the transfer of wealth and other property rights. Succession is the legal process that occurs upon the death of an individual, in which their estate is divided and distributed according to the laws of the state in which they resided. Inheritance is the actual acquisition of property rights resulting from the succession process. In Maryland, the succession process is overseen by the court and first requires a petition by the deceased’s personal representative. The court then decides on the distribution of the estate according to the terms of the deceased’s will or, if there is no will, according to Maryland’s intestacy laws. Once the succession process is complete, the actual transfer of property rights occurs through the inheritance process. In essence, succession is the legal process by which an individual’s estate is divided and the inheritance process is the transfer of the property rights resulting from that process. During the succession process, the court must determine the legal validity of a will, if there is one, and must also determine who is entitled to inherit the deceased’s property. Once the succession process is complete, the inheritance process is used to transfer the rightful property rights to the heirs.

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