Disinheritance under Panamanian Civil Law
When preparing your Last Will and Testament, there may be some people (or
person) that you do not wish to leave property to. If you simply do not
name that person in your will, they will generally have no claim to your
property after you die. However, if you intend to disinherit children, or
your parents or spouse, then this intention must be clearly spelled out in the
will and certain conditions must be met.
The most important article of the Civil Code in this respect is 778:
Artículo 778. Toda persona hábil puede disponer por testamento
libremente de sus bienes, con tal de que deje asegurado los alimento de los
hijos que tengan derecho a ellos de acuerdo con la ley, durante el tiempo a que
se refiere el artículo 223 (sic) de la presente Ley y los de sus padres, los de
su consorte e hijos inválidos, mientras los necesiten.
Si el testador omite cumplir esta obligación de alimentos, el heredero no
recibirá de los bienes sino lo que sobre, después de darse al alimentista,
previa estimación de peritos, lo bastante a asegurar sus alimentos.
Si los hijos, los padres o el consorte tuvieren al morir el testador,
bienes bastantes, no está obligado éste a dejarles alimentos.
Translation of the above:
Every able person may dispose of their asset freely by testament, as long
as they guarantee the maintenance of those children who have a right thereto
according to the law, for the time required by article 223 of this law and
those of their parents, their spouse and invalid children, as long as
required.
If the testator fails to fulfil this obligation of maintenance, the heir
will not receive the assets, but rather those that are left over after
providing to the beneficiary, as estimated by experts, enough to guarantee
their support.
If the children, parents or spouse have at the time of death, enough
assets, (s)he is not required to leave them maintenance.
Article 223 of the Civil Code is no longer in effect (it was repealed with
the introduction of the Family Code in 1994), and has been replaed by Article
377 of the Family Code, which states:
Artículo 377. Lo alimentos comprenden una prestación económica,
que debe guardar la debida relación entre las posibilidades económicas de
quien está obligado a darlos y las necesidades de quien o quienes los
requieran. Éstos comprenden:
- El suministro de sustancias nutritivas o comestibles, de ateción
médica y medicamentos;
- Las necesidades de vestido y habitación;
- La obligación de proporcionar los recursos necesarios a fin de
procurar la instrucción elemental o superior o el aprendizaje de un arte u
oficio, aun después de la mayoría de edad hasta un máximo de veinticinco
(25) años, si los estudios se realizan con provecho tanto en el tiempo como
en el rendimiento académico, salvo si se trata de un discapacitado
profundo, en cuyo caso hasta que éste lo requiera; y
- Tratándose de menores, todo lo necesario para lograr su desarrollo
integral desde la concepción.
La autoridad competente apreciará estas circunstancias y otras que etime
conveniente para determinar las necesidades del que recibe los alimentos.
The translation of this is the following:
Maintenance is an economic allowance which must consider the due
relationship between the economic possibilitie of the person obligated to give
them and the necessities of the person(s) that require them. These
include:
- The supply of food and consumables, medical attention and
medicines;
- The necesities of room and clothing;
- The obligation to provide the necessary resources to ensure the
elementary or higher education or apprenticeship of an art or craft, even
after reaching the age of majority until 25 years of age, if the studies
are undertaken, taking advantage of time and with academic achievement,
except where required for severe handicap, in which case for as long as
required; and
- For the underage, all that is required for their complete development
from conception.
The competent authorities shall consider these circumstances and others
which they consider relevant to determin the requirements of the person
receiving maintenance.
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Last modified 26-Sep-2007 17:38 -0400
