Disputed Estate of Childless Widow with No Known Paternal Heirs

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Unknown recipient

Description

The Chasam Sofer dismisses all three competing claims to the estate of a childless widow: the maternal half-sister has no inheritance rights under halachah, the revoked deathbed-gift document is a worthless shard with no legal force, and the seizors' dowry claim is groundless. He rules the property belongs to the unknown paternal heirs and instructs beis din to appoint a guardian or require security to safeguard the estate pending their appearance, siding with the Maharam Lublin against the Yaavetz on beis din's duty to intervene.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer CM §129

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