who will inherit In Hindu law?

In Hindu law, the rules of inheritance primarily depend on whether the deceased left a valid will or not, and whether they are governed by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (in India). If the deceased did not leave a will (i.e., they died intestate), the inheritance will be determined according to the provisions of the Act. The Act divides the heirs into two classes: Class I heirs and Class II heirs. Here's a breakdown:

1. Class I Heirs:

These heirs have the first right to inherit the deceased’s property, and they include:

• Sons
• Daughters
• Widow
• Mother
• Son of a predeceased son
• Daughter of a predeceased son
• Son of a predeceased daughter
• Daughter of a predeceased daughter

If the deceased has no Class I heirs, the property passes to Class II heirs.

2. Class II Heirs:

Class II heirs inherit the property only when there are no Class I heirs. Class II heirs include:

• Father
• Brothers and sisters
• Nephews and nieces
• Uncles and aunts

3. Other Heirs (Reserved Categories):

• Agnates (relatives through male lineage) and Cognates (relatives through female lineage) are also considered in certain cases when there are no Class I or Class II heirs.
• If a Hindu male dies intestate, the property may also be inherited by grandparents, depending on the absence of other heirs.

Specific rules for Hindu women:

• Married Hindu women: In the case of a married woman’s inheritance, her property is generally inherited by her children and husband. If the woman dies without a will, her heirs would be her children, husband, and other Class I heirs, following the same structure as a man.
• Hindu women’s property: Property inherited by a Hindu woman under the Hindu Succession Act can be passed on to her heirs under the same rules of inheritance.

In case of a Will (Testate Succession):

If the deceased left a valid will, inheritance follows the directions laid out in the will, and the general rules of intestate succession would not apply, unless the will is deemed invalid.

Thus, who inherits under Hindu law depends on the presence of a valid will and the class of heirs to the property, with Class I heirs having the priority.