Rozwój prawa spadkowego w przedrozbiorowej Polsce

Abstract

The authors analyze the development of succession law on the basis of available sourcesin pre-partition Poland including the most important institutions. They attempt to search for thegenesis of inheritance, and they emphasize the great role of inheritance law during the early feudalmonarchy. They distinguish factors influencing the formation of law in Poland, such as customarylaw, statute law, canon law and German law. They describe the beginnings of inheritance relatingonly to movable things. Explain concepts emerging with the development of inheritance law such asgender fragility. They undertake an analysis of the meaning of the form of the will, which in Polandwas initially oral, and from the 13th century established itself as a written regulation of thetestator’s last will in case of death. They conclude on the process of development of inheritance lawin pre-partition Poland as an instrument of legislators to achieve their goals, which may constitutean interesting contribution to further discussion.