Scotland’s inheritance rules are to be overhauled in reforms intended to reflect changes in society, such as fewer marriages and an increase in stepfamilies.
A Scottish government consultation has been launched asking for the public’s view on how the law can be made fairer when it comes to dividing an estate on someone’s death.
It asks what rights cohabitants should have and whether stepchildren should have the same inheritance rights as biological or adopted children.
Opinions are also being sought on whether anyone convicted of murder should be removed as executor of their victim’s will.
Community safety minister Ash Denham said: “The make-up of families in Scotland is vastly different today than it was when these laws were passed more than half a century ago,