夫妻分別財產制下的配偶遺產繼承權【楊忠憲律師】

夫妻之間的財產制度可以透過法院辦理確認，分為不同類型，包括法定財產制、分別財產制和共同財產制。假如夫妻已經在法院辦理確認，並且選擇了分別財產制，而其中一方（夫或妻）在此制度下去世，另一方是否可以繼承已故配偶的財產？
分別財產制是處理剩餘財產分配問題，而非遺產。
根據民法，分別財產制是一種制度，其中夫妻保有各自的婚後財產，不進行混合共有。在分別財產制下，每個人都有自己的財產，且不需要進行財產的平均分配。
然而，在這種情況下，生存的妻子是否可以繼承已故的丈夫的財產呢？
分別財產制下的夫或妻仍然享有遺產繼承的權利。
根據台灣民法第1138條，繼承的順序包括直系血親卑親屬、父母、兄弟姊妹以及祖父母。根據民法第1144條的規定，配偶作為繼承人時，其應繼分的比例會根據與其他繼承人的關係而有所不同。如果配偶與其他繼承人同為第一順序繼承人，則其應繼分與其他繼承人平均；如果配偶與其他繼承人同為第二或第三順序繼承人，則其應繼分為遺產二分之一；如果配偶與其他繼承人同為第四順序繼承人，則其應繼分為遺產三分之二。
縱然夫妻已在法院辦理分別財產制，而夫在這種情況下去世，現任妻作為遺產繼承人有權繼承已故丈夫的財產。儘管分別財產制下，財產並不會共同所有，但現任妻仍然享有根據法定繼承順序繼承遺產的合法權益。

 

Spousal Inheritance Rights Under Separate Property Regime for Couples

The property regime between married couples in Taiwan can be confirmed through legal procedures and classified into various types, including statutory property regime, separate property regime, and community property regime. If a couple has undergone this legal process and chosen the separate property regime, and if one spouse (husband or wife) passes away under this arrangement, can the surviving spouse inherit the deceased spouse’s property?

It’s important to note that the separate property regime pertains to the distribution of remaining property, not inheritance.

According to the Civil Code, the separate property regime allows each spouse to retain ownership of their respective post-marital assets, without commingling. Under this regime, each individual maintains ownership of their own property, and there is no requirement for an equal distribution of property.

However, in such a scenario, can the surviving wife inherit the property of the deceased husband?

Spouses under the separate property regime still retain inheritance rights.

According to Article 1138 of the Taiwan Civil Code, the order of inheritance includes direct lineal descendants, parents, siblings, and grandparents. As stipulated in Article 1144 of the Civil Code, the proportion of inheritance for a spouse as an heir varies based on their relationship with other heirs. If a spouse is in the same order of inheritance as other heirs, their share should be distributed equally among all heirs. If a spouse is in the second or third order of inheritance, their share should be half of the estate. If a spouse is in the fourth order of inheritance, their share should be two-thirds of the estate.

Even though a couple has undergone legal procedures to establish a separate property regime and the husband passes away in this situation, the current wife has the right to inherit the deceased husband’s property. Despite the separate property regime not involving joint ownership of property, the surviving wife still maintains the legitimate right to inherit the estate according to the statutory order of inheritance.