Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Inheritence by felony inmates

Can a convicted felon inherite money or property? This felon killed a person in his own mothers house and is now serving the required sentence, (his mother was home at the time). it seems to me that he would not have the right to this as felons don't have rights or do they?


Asked on 5/13/03, 12:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Chris Johnson Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law

Re: Inheritence by felony inmates

Inheritance rights can be lost when the person wrongfully kills the person from whom he/she would otherwise inherit. New elder abuse laws also can result in one losing one's inheritance if an elder abuse case is prosecuted successfully against the person--again, the person would have to have harmed the person from whom he/she would otherwise inherit.

If the person is serving time for an offense unrelated to the person they're inheriting from, the inheritance would go to such person regardless of his/her status as a prisoner.

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Answered on 5/13/03, 2:06 pm


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