Tanzanian law allows adopted children to inherit
The Law of the Child Act clarifies that adopted children have legal inheritance rights from adoptive parents.
Tanzanian law now confirms that adopted children can inherit property from their adoptive parents. The Law of the Child Act, Cap. 13 [R.E. 2023], establishes adoption as a legal process, distinct from informal family arrangements. Section 64 of the Act details the legal consequences of adoption orders, transferring parental rights and responsibilities.
Under Section 65(1) of the Act, if an adoptive parent dies without a will, their property devolves as if the adopted child were their natural child. An adoption order legally establishes a child's right to inherit from adoptive parents, without needing to prove a biological link. Section 66 also addresses adopted children's inclusion in wills.
This legal framework ensures that children raised and cared for by adoptive parents have inheritance rights. The adoption order is the key legal document establishing this relationship and its consequences for property devolution.
Why it mattersAdopted children in Tanzania are legally entitled to inherit from their adoptive parents, ensuring they are not disinherited.