Know About the Daughter’s Right to Equal Share in the Father’s Property

Are you aware of Indian law regarding the daughter’s right to get an equal share of the father’s property? Earlier daughters did not have equal rights to property, but significant changes in the law have given them the right to own their father’s property. 

As per the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005, there has been a significant shift to give daughters equal rights as sons in their ancestral property. Moreover, the Supreme Court has also made important judgments in order to strengthen the rights of daughters.

In this blog, we will understand in detail the rights of daughters, especially married daughters, on their father’s property.

Rights of Married Daughters in Self-Acquired Property of Their Parents

As per the Hindu Succession Act, married daughters have the right to get an equal share in their property as their brothers when their parents pass without a will. This Act does not make any distinction between unmarried or married daughter's rights in the father's property.

Also, recently, in the year 2022, the Supreme Court announced that daughters will have equal rights on the self-acquired property of their parents. This rule will be applicable even in cases where the daughter's parents pass away and leave a will before the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, was legislated.

However, keep in mind that the owner will have complete freedom in their self-created properties. They have the right to make a will and pass their property to any individual they prefer. So, in the case when the parents have made a will in order to transfer their property’s ownership only to their sons or relatives or any relative, the daughter cannot contest.

Right Of Married Daughter in Parent’s Ancestral Property

In this case, it should be mentioned that the division of common ancestral property is carried out taking into account the rule established by the inheritance law. It is unlike the self-acquired property. Here, the parents do not hold the right to give away their share of their undivided ancestral property to any individual they prefer.

Daughters also have equal rights in an undivided ancestral property, same as their brothers. Since inheritance or succession law also grants property rights to the deceased's other legal heirs, the division will be based on each heir's share. But, you must be aware that married daughters will get the same share of the ancestral property of their parents as their brothers.

Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005

The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005 was passed to give equal property rights to the daughters with significant changes to the earlier law. The law clearly states that if the father dies without creating a will, then the daughter will become the sole heir to the property. The daughter will get the legal right automatically from birth. Moreover, they do not need any approval from any male relative.

As per the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005, both daughters and sons hold an equal share of the property of their father. But, if the father leaves a will to pass their ownership to any male relative instead of their son or daughter, then they won't be able to get any share or claim for it. 

You need to understand that although the law recognises the share of the married daughter's rights in the father's property, it will not extend to the share of daughters-in-law who are part of the family through marriage. The daughter-in-law is a family member, but they cannot claim to have an equal share of their father-in-law’s property according to this law.

What Is The Purpose Of The Hindu Succession Act as Legislation?

Related to the 1956 Act, the main goal of the Hindu Succession Act was to completely eliminate all notions and ideas of restricted estates. It aimed to ensure that there must be perfect equality in property rights between the man and woman. The law also announced the rights of women in their father’s property.

Further, the court has made observations on Section 14, which deals with the modification of the Act of 2005, and Section 15, which includes the general succession rules in the case of Hindu females.

As per Section 15(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, only the sons and daughters will be eligible for the succession of the property of a female Hindu who dies intestate.

This rule will be applied to properties that are gained through inheritance or are known as ancestral property. It is limited to the inherited property by the Hindu female if she dies without any heirs from her father, husband, mother or father-in-law. In Section 15(2), exceptions to this norm are offered. 

Can A Daughter Claim For A Partition of Her Ancestral Property?

Yes, daughters can claim or seek a partition of their parent’s ancestral property, irrespective of their marital status. But, keep in mind that it is null in cases when a will is created that states that the father transferred its ownership to his son and not to his daughter. In this case, the daughter cannot seek a partition of the ancestral property.

Conclusion

According to the Hindu Succession Act 1956, the property has to be divided equally by every legal heir member, including daughters and sons. With time, changes were made in the law, which strengthened the daughter’s right to her father’s property. This has resulted in more extensive property rights than in the previous law. It now includes the unmarried or married daughter's rights in the father's property right to ancestral property. If you still have any queries regarding the legal rights of the daughters, get legal advice from LegalKart.

Frequently Asked Questions on Daughter's Rights

 1. What laws govern a daughter’s right to her father’s property in India?

Answer: The main law governing a daughter's right to her father's property in India is the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. This act was amended in 2005 to grant daughters equal rights to inherit ancestral property, bringing them on par with sons.

 2. What changes were made in the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act?

Answer: The 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act granted daughters equal rights to inherit ancestral property, similar to sons. It allowed daughters to become coparceners (joint heirs) in Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) properties and gave them the same legal status as sons regarding inheritance rights.

 3. Are daughters entitled to an equal share in both ancestral and self-acquired property of the father?

Answer: Yes, daughters are entitled to an equal share in both ancestral and self-acquired property of their father. The 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act ensured that daughters have the same rights as sons to inherit both types of property.

 4. Does a daughter need to be married to claim her share in the father's property?

Answer: No, a daughter's marital status does not affect her right to claim an equal share in her father's property. Both married and unmarried daughters have equal rights to inherit their father's property.

 5. What are the rights of a daughter if the father dies intestate (without a will)?

Answer: If a father dies intestate, his property is distributed according to the Hindu Succession Act. In this case, daughters, along with sons, wife, and mother of the deceased, have an equal right to the property. The property is divided equally among all legal heirs.

 6. Can a father exclude his daughter from inheriting his property through a will?

Answer: Yes, a father can exclude his daughter from inheriting his self-acquired property through a will, as he has the right to distribute his self-acquired property as he wishes. However, he cannot exclude her from inheriting ancestral property, as daughters have an inherent right to an equal share in ancestral property due to the 2005 amendment.

 7. How can a daughter claim her share in the father’s property?

Answer: A daughter can claim her share in her father's property by filing a partition suit in the appropriate court. The court will then determine the share of each heir and ensure the property is divided accordingly.

 8. What is the impact of the Supreme Court’s judgment on daughters’ property rights?

Answer: The Supreme Court’s judgment in 2020 reaffirmed that daughters have equal rights to inherit ancestral property, regardless of whether the father was alive or deceased at the time of the 2005 amendment. This landmark judgment clarified any ambiguity and reinforced the principle of gender equality in property inheritance.

 9. Can daughters claim a share in their father’s property if he passed away before the 2005 amendment?

Answer: Yes, according to the 2020 Supreme Court judgment, daughters can claim a share in their father’s ancestral property even if the father passed away before the 2005 amendment. The judgment applies retrospectively, ensuring equal rights for daughters.

 10. Do daughters have rights to their father’s property in case of adoption?

Answer: Yes, adopted daughters have the same rights as biological daughters to inherit their adoptive father’s property. The Hindu Succession Act treats adopted children on par with biological children in matters of inheritance.

 11. Are daughters liable to pay debts if they inherit their father’s property?

Answer: Yes, if a daughter inherits her father's property, she is also liable to pay any debts or liabilities associated with that property. The legal heir who inherits the property also inherits the associated responsibilities.

 12. Can a daughter claim her share in the father’s property after a family settlement?

Answer: If a family settlement has been legally executed and all parties, including the daughter, have agreed to it, she may not be able to claim an additional share. However, if the settlement did not include her consent or was not done legally, she may challenge it in court to claim her rightful share.

 13. What documents are needed for a daughter to claim her share in her father’s property?

Answer: A daughter will need the following documents to claim her share in her father’s property:

- Proof of relationship (birth certificate, school records, etc.)

- Death certificate of the father

- Property documents (title deeds, revenue records)

- Family tree or genealogy records

- Legal heir certificate

- Any relevant court orders or judgments

 14. How does the inheritance process work for daughters in a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)?

Answer: In a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), daughters have the same rights as sons to become coparceners. This means they have a right to demand partition and claim their share in the ancestral property. Upon partition, the property is divided equally among all coparceners, including daughters.

 15. Can a daughter’s right to property be challenged by other heirs?

Answer: Other heirs can challenge a daughter’s right to property, but such challenges are generally not successful if the daughter’s claim is legally sound. The 2005 amendment and the 2020 Supreme Court judgment strongly support the daughter’s right to an equal share in her father’s property, making it difficult for other heirs to contest her claim successfully.