Baku, July 10 — Azerbaijan has introduced sweeping reforms to its inheritance laws, aimed at cutting down the number of court cases over family estates and ensuring greater protection for heirs. President Ilham Aliyev has signed off on amendments to several key legal codes — including the Civil Code, Land Code, and laws governing notaries and enforcement.
The changes, announced by MP and economist Vugar Bayramov, are designed to eliminate loopholes that previously caused confusion and conflict in inheritance proceedings.
Inaction No Longer Equals Refusal
One of the most important updates clarifies that an heir’s silence or inaction will no longer be treated as a refusal to accept inheritance. In the past, this ambiguity often triggered family disputes and civil lawsuits.
Now, an inheritance will only be considered rejected if all heirs explicitly refuse it.
“Disputes among children over property sometimes even turned into generational conflicts,” Bayramov said. “The new law brings clarity and fairness.”
Inheritance Accepted by Default Unless Officially Rejected
If heirs do not submit a formal refusal, the inheritance is assumed to be accepted. They also have the right to ask for an official inventory of the estate, which must be completed by a notary within two months.
Protection for Heirs of Deceased Heirs
If an heir dies after the inheritance process has begun, their own heirs can still claim their rightful share — and the deadline to do so is automatically extended to a minimum of three months.
Creditors Can’t Chase Heirs for More Than the Estate’s Value
The new rules also limit liability for debts. Heirs are now only responsible for the deceased’s financial obligations up to the value of the inheritance they actually receive, provided the assets are officially inventoried by a notary.
Notaries Must List All Eligible Heirs
Even if only one heir applies for an inheritance certificate, notaries must still list other eligible heirs who haven’t refused or applied. This change is designed to protect the rights of passive heirs and prevent legal loopholes.
“These reforms strengthen constitutional property rights and modernize how we handle inheritance in Azerbaijan,” Bayramov said. “They reduce the chances of future disputes and ensure families aren’t torn apart by legal battles.”
