Development Trends of Inheritance Law in the Context of the Digital Economy

Abstract

The topic of the study is relevant due to many factors, including the lack of a proper legislative framework in the field of digital inheritance. The authors of this paper set the objective to study the prospects for the development of hereditary laws and regulations in the context of the digital economy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper indicates the areas where the ongoing digitalization of society influences hereditary laws and regulations. Findings: Special attention is drawn to the second path of the development of inheritance laws and regulations. The authors deem it expedient to incorporate video testaments, the relevance of which is obvious in the event of a closed will and emergencies. The chances of consolidation of last wills in electronic form are assessed. Finally, the authors come to the conclusion that the above phenomenon will come sooner or later in the Russian legal order, which is quite predictable in the light of the emerging trend of legalization of electronic wills by some foreign countries. Uniqueness/Value: It is concluded that digitalization influences inheritance laws and regulations in two ways (1) expanding the list of digital objects of civil rights, which necessitates the determination of their inheritance law regime and (2) digitalizing the law enforcement procedures, which puts on the agenda the conversion of hereditary procedures into electronic form. The paper positively assesses the institution of video recording of notarial acts, including the signature of the joint will of the spouses and the inheritance contract.