Death Benefits in Favor of the Church: Civil and Canon Law Implications

The relationship between the Church and inheritance law lies at the intersection of civil law and canon law, giving rise to a number of specific doctrinal and regulatory issues. Civil law approaches inheritance primarily from the perspective of legal capacity, whereas canon law places greater emphasis on the acquisition of property and the proper administration and use of acquired assets. In this context, transparency and accountability play a central role in decisions concerning the authorization of property acquisition and the management of inherited assets. Different Christian denominations regulate these matters in accordance with their own organizational structures and normative traditions. Historical and comparative legal experience demonstrates that the relationship between the Church and inheritance law continuously adapts to social and legal policy developments. Changes in financing models and the rapid advancement of digitalization require new interpretative frameworks that enable a more nuanced understanding of the normative coexistence and interaction between ecclesiastical autonomy and inheritance law, while also necessitating the further refinement of the applicable legal framework.