15 – Intestate succession to a woman’s property

If I am a woman, who will inherit my properties after me, and what will be their shares?

If I am a Hindu woman, who will succeed to my property, and how much will he get, depends on whether I am married, have children, and is my property inherited. I have discussed that here. If I have been married and do not have children, generally my property will be inherited by relatives of my husband. That is not so with women of other religious faiths.

If I am a woman, properties are inherited after me as follows:

A. Husband, two sons, two daughters, mother, father, two brothers, sister

If I am a Hindu: Husband – 1/5, each son – 1/5, each daughter – 1/5,
If I am a Christian: husband – 1/3, each son – 1/6, each daughter – 1/6,
If I am a Parsi: husband – 1/6, each son – 1/6, each daughter – 1/6, mother – 1/12, father – 1/12,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: husband – 1/4, each son – 5/36, each daughter – 5/72, mother – 1/6, father – 1/6.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 1

B. As above, but one son and one daughter are predeceased (who has died before me), and have spouse and children

If I am a Hindu: husband – 1/5, son – 1/5, daughter – 1/5, children of predeceased son – 1/10 each, children of predeceased daughter – 1/10 each,
If I am a Christian: husband – 1/3, son – 1/6, daughter – 1/6, children of predeceased son – 1/12 each, children of predeceased daughter – 1/12 each,
If I am a Parsi: husband – 1/6, son – 1/6, daughter – 1/6, wife and children of predeceased son – 1/18 each, children of predeceased daughter – 1/12 each, mother – 1/12, father – 1/12,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: husband – 1/4, each son – 5/36, each daughter – 5/72, mother – 1/6, father – 1/6.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 2

C. Husband, mother, father, brother, sister

If I am a Hindu: husband will inherit the whole property (except property inherited from my father, mother, and father-in-law),
If I am a Christian: husband – 1/2, father – 1/2,
If I am a Parsi: husband – 1/2, mother – 1/4, father – 1/4,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: husband – 1/2, mother – 1/6, father – 7/12.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 3

D. Mother, father, brother, sister

If I am a Hindu and unmarried: mother – 1/2, father – 1/2,
If I am a Christian: my father will inherit the whole property,
If I am a Parsi: husband – 1/2, mother – 1/4, father – 1/4,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: mother – 1/6, father – 5/6.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 4

E. Brother and sister

If I am a Hindu (unmarried), Christian or Parsi: brother – 1/2, sister – 1/2,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: brother – 2/3, sister – 1/3.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 5

F. Mother, brother, sister

If I am a Hindu (unmarried) or a Parsi: my mother will inherit the whole property,
If I am a Christian: mother – 1/3, brother – 1/3, sister – 1/3,
If I am a Sunni Muslim: mother – 1/6, each brother – 5/9, sister – 5/18.
Their shares will be as follows:

15 - Woman Intestate Succession table 6