Inheritance Law
Published in Encyclopedia of Family Business, 2023
Recommended citation: Ortiz. (2023). Inheritance Law. In C. Howorth & A. Discua Cruz (eds), Encyclopedia of Family Business, Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing.
Inheritance law is a family-oriented legal institution shaping how families transfer wealth across generations. This review discusses the main components of inheritance law (inheritance tax rate, and testamentary freedom), and how they impact business families. It also explores common strategies used by business families to mitigate the effects of inheritance law, such as family trusts and corporate ownership transactions. Finally, this review discusses the evidence of the effects of inheritance laws on business families and their impact on social inequality. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of inheritance law and its implications for business families.