The need to reform the law on intestate succession to provide for more rights for adoptive and extra-marital children

Abstract

None provided. The following is taken from the author's Introduction:

The law of intestate succession is one of the branches of private law that remained fairly static and substantial legal reforms evaded it for many years. In fact, the common law on intestate succession experienced changes as far back as 1946, which related to the inclusion of the spouse of the deceased person as an intestate heir and adoptions in general. Adoption legislation was last amended in 1960. The law relating to the intestacy rights of the extra-marital child is hardest hit, since no legislative intervention ever brought relief for the hardship and injustice suffered by the extra-marital child...

The main focus of this dissertation is to identify the inadequacies that exist in the law of intestate succession as it relates to the position of adopted and extra-marital children. Further, it intends to make recommendations for reform, firstly, against the background of the constitutional regime of Namibia and secondly, the demands of international law...