Окремі аспекти правового статусу постмортальних дітей спадкодавця у спадковому праві України

Abstract

Стаття присвячена дослідженню спадково-правового статусу дітей спадкодавця, зачатих після його смерті, з урахуванням положень правової доктрини та зарубіжного досвіду. Аргументована пропозиція визнати таких осіб спадкоємцями за заповітом шляхом унесення відповідних змін до цивільного законодавства України та сформульовані умови, за наявності яких доцільно надати постмортальним дітям право спадкувати.The article deals with research of inherent and legal status of testator’s children conceived after his death, taking into account provisions of legal doctrine and foreign experience. Children, conceived after death of a testator using his genetic material with the help of assisted reproductive technologies are proposed to name “postmortal children”, from Lat., post mortem – postmortal. It argues the proposal to recognize such persons as heir on testacy through appropriate amendments to civil legislation of Ukraine. The expediency of inheritance rights recognition in favour of persons, not only born, but also conceived after opening of inheritance is determined by two factors. First, it is realization of the principle of freedom of will, the content of which includes, among of other things, the right of testator to appoint as heir any person, as one, who belongs to successors, as any other private and juridical person. Secondly, testator consent to postmortem generation gives all reasons to consider as exercise, by latter one, of personal non-property right to reproductive choice. The position that modern state of civil legislation of Ukraine allows to implement in testament such condition as child conceiving after testator’s death using his genetic material is criticized. The development of scientific technologies enables to conduct two variants of postmortal reproduction: use of cryopreserved sperm, which was taken in testator lifetime, and sperm extraction from dead person. The research formulates the following conditions of granting of the right to postmortal children – the presence of appropriate testator will in testament, realization of syngamy using assisted reproductive technologies exclusively by virtue of testator’s genetic material within a period of six months, established for the acceptance of an inheritance. Expediency of implementation of indicated conditions is explained by the need to ensure stability of hereditary relations, possibility to establish a child’s heritage, born after death of its father with confidence. Moreover, it will allow avoiding potential abuse on the part of other successors. In the case of a successful conceiving after opening of inheritance, on conditions that such person is recognized as an heir at the legislative level, regulations on nasciturus can be applied by analogy to these legal relations until the moment of child birth.Статья посвящена исследованию наследственно-правового статуса детей наследодателя, зачатых после его смерти, с учетом положений правовой доктрины и зарубежного опыта. Аргументировано предложение признать таких лиц наследниками по завещанию путем внесения соответствующих изменений в гражданском законодательстве Украины и сформулированы условия, при наличии которых целесообразно предоставить постмортальным детям право наследовать.