Private Law Theory

ABSTRACT
This article examines inheritance law in Georgia, with particular emphasis on the acceptance of inheritance, heirs’ rights, intestate and testamentary succession, estate property, inheritance registration, escheat property, and the legislative reform effective from 1 July 2026. It analyses the relevant provisions of the Civil Code of Georgia, including Article 1343, together with the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the Supreme Court of Georgia. Particular attention is given to the statutory period for accepting an inheritance, actual possession of estate property, inheritance disputes, the legal consequences of failing to accept an inheritance, and the transfer of escheat property to the State. The article also considers the practical implications of Georgian inheritance law for heirs residing abroad and places the 2026 reform within a broader comparative European context. The study aims to provide a doctrinal and practice-oriented analysis of the contemporary Georgian law of succession and the legal mechanisms available for the protection and registration of inheritance rights.

Nakashidze, Natia, Inheritance Law in Georgia: Acceptance of Inheritance, Heirs’ Rights, Escheat Property, Judicial Practice, and the 2026 Reform (August 29, 2026).