UNDERSTANDING LAW FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS
Last issue I explored the law behind the inheritance of moveable estate in Scotland, and the relevant records generated by the confirmation process within the civil courts, which are available on ScotlandsPeople at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Prior to 1868, however, it was not possible to leave any heritable property in a will in Scotland. So if a deceased person left a house and land behind, who inherited it, and by which methods?