公同共有與分別共有-遺產繼承的兩種模式【楊忠憲律師】
在處理親人過世後的繼承過程中，人們通常會面對不同的選擇，其中最常見的兩種方式是「公同共有」和「分別共有」。這兩種繼承模式在法律上有著明顯的區別。
- 公同共有：共同協商的狀態
「公同共有」繼承是一種權宜的暫時狀態，當一位親人去世時，其遺產在法律上會立即變成全體繼承人「公同共有」。在這種情況下，所有繼承人共同擁有遺產，但需要所有繼承人的一致同意才能賣出或處分遺產。這種方式避免了個別人的過度掌控，但同時也可能讓決策變得困難，一位不同意的繼承人就能阻止所有行動。
民法第1151條：繼承人有數人時，在分割遺產前，各繼承人對於遺產全部為公同共有。
- 分別共有：清晰的權利界定
相較之下，「分別共有」繼承模式強調每位繼承人的個別權益。在完成分割協議或一般繼承後，每位繼承人將持有明確的持分，可以自行決定賣出自己所擁有的那一部分。這種方式不需要其他繼承人的同意，並且在辦理繼承時只需要普通章的印鑑證明，相對方便。
- 遺產分配的靈活性
分割協議繼承的最大特色在於，繼承人之間可以自行協商並達成分配遺產的共識，而不受法定的應繼分比例限制。雖然法律規定了應繼分，但是繼承人可以根據自身需求和協商達成分配方式。這讓各種情況下的遺產分配更加靈活，例如根據照顧長輩或其他因素進行調整。
然而，這種方式的操作也需要謹慎，因為不同繼承人的應繼分可能會受到影響。在辦理分割協議繼承時，必須確保繼承人之間真正達成共識，通常需要全體繼承人的印鑑證明和印鑑章來證實。
- 結論：權益保障的選擇
無論是公同共有還是分別共有，每種繼承模式都有其獨特的優勢和限制。公同共有在保障共同決策權方面具有特色，同時也提供了改變模式的選擇。分別共有則著重於個別權益的明確界定，使繼承人能夠更自主地處理遺產。
Joint Ownership and Separate Ownership – Two Modes of Inheritance
In the process of handling inheritance after the passing of a loved one, individuals often face different choices, with the two most common options being “Joint Ownership” and “Separate Ownership.” These two modes of inheritance have distinct differences in legal terms.
- Joint Ownership: Collaborative Decision-Making
“Joint Ownership” inheritance is a temporary and expedient status. When a family member passes away, their assets are legally immediately held in “Joint Ownership” among all inheritors. In this scenario, all inheritors collectively own the assets, but the unanimous consent of all inheritors is required for any sale or disposal of the assets. While this approach prevents individual dominance, it can complicate decision-making, as a single dissenting inheritor can halt all actions.
Civil Code Article 1151: When there are multiple inheritors, before dividing the estate, all inheritors collectively hold the estate in joint ownership.
- Separate Ownership: Clear Individual Rights
In contrast, the “Separate Ownership” inheritance model emphasizes the distinct rights of each inheritor. After the completion of a distribution agreement or general inheritance, each inheritor will hold a clearly defined share and can independently decide to sell their portion. This approach doesn’t require the consent of other inheritors, and during the inheritance process, only a regular seal is needed for authentication, which is relatively convenient.
- Flexibility in Estate Distribution
The prominent feature of “Separate Ownership” through distribution agreement inheritance lies in the ability for inheritors to independently negotiate and reach a consensus on asset distribution, unrestricted by statutory proportions of distribution. Although the law defines the applicable distribution proportion, inheritors have the flexibility to tailor the distribution according to their needs through negotiation. This allows for adaptable estate distribution based on factors like caregiving or other considerations.
However, this method requires careful execution, as the shares of different inheritors may be affected. When dealing with distribution agreement inheritance, it’s vital to ensure true consensus among inheritors, typically requiring the authentication of all inheritors’ seals for validation.
- Conclusion: Safeguarding Rights Through Choice
Whether choosing Joint Ownership or Separate Ownership, each mode of inheritance has its distinct advantages and limitations. Joint Ownership excels in safeguarding collective decision-making power while offering flexibility to switch modes. Separate Ownership prioritizes clear individual rights, enabling inheritors to autonomously manage the estate.