The legal system of the DR has what's called "Patria Potestad" which revolves around the issues of children, their legitimacy and rights.
For any child to claim rights given by such laws in the DR, they must first prove to the court their legitimacy regarding their parents.
After that you have that the DR Law regarding the inheritance rights that those children are guarantee by such laws.
The inheritance is divided by the surviving members first that it was a 50/50 husband -wife split. Being that one of them is dead now; the remaining 50% of the deceased will be the initial inheritance of the children that are legitimate to the deceased parent. Even when one or more of the children were born out of wedlock but their legitimate status proven in court, then shall that court proceed to cover their rights as such.
Now... From the 50% of the split of the wealth of the parents, the surviving children will get that amount split equally among them regardless of age or gender. Even Steven...
That puts a stop to the surviving parent of depriving the surviving children from taking the money and property and going to the casino...
Those cases are seldom heard of since most families are just always together and any step children are always provided assurance by the surviving parent of their inheritance.
Let me put it like this: It's of no matter to the court who had the money before the surviving parents got together, but it does what was under their sole names. If any property was under both, then that property is taken into the split to the surviving children. What you don't want split to other kids from your extended family, keep it solely under your name and not both. In that case only "your" direct surviving children will have inheritance from that pool.
Again, since most families in the DR with step children get along like family that's irrelevant most of the time. As most would just recognize all children equally theirs and hence worth inheriting...
|