Civil Code

If it is not evident whether there is an heir, the decedent's estate is a corporation.

In a case as referred to in the preceding Article, the family court must appoint a liquidator to the estate at the request of an interested party or the public prosecutor.

When a liquidator to the estate has been appointed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the family court must, without delay, issue public notice to that effect and to the effect that an heir, if any, must assert the heir's rights within a fixed period. In this case, that period may not be less than six months.

The provisions of Article 27 through Article 29 apply mutatis mutandis to the liquidator of an estate as referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (referred to simply as the "Liquidator of the Estate" hereinafter in this Chapter).

At the request of a creditor of the succession or a legatee, the Liquidator of the Estate must report the condition of the estate to the person who has so requested.

If it becomes evident that there is an heir, the corporation referred to in Article 951 is deemed not to have been formed; provided, however, that this does not prevent the validity of an action taken by the Liquidator of the Estate that is within the scope of the authority thereof.

The Liquidator of the Estate's authority to represent is extinguished once an heir accepts the succession.

In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Liquidator of the Estate must give an account of the liquidation to the heir without delay.

If the public notice referred to in Article 952, paragraph (2) has been issued, the Liquidator of the Estate must issue public notice to all creditors of the succession and legatees, specifying a period of two months or more, indicating that they must file their claims within that period. In this case, that period must expire within the period publicly noticed by the family court, pursuant to that paragraph, as the period during which an heir must assert the heir's rights.

The provisions of Article 927, paragraph (2) through (4) and Article 928 through Article 935 (excluding the proviso to Article 932) apply mutatis mutandis to a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

If no person asserts rights as an heir within the period referred to in Article 952, paragraph (2), it is not permissible for an heir or for any creditor of the succession or legatee unknown to the liquidator of the estate, to exercise the rights thereof.

In a case as referred to in the preceding Article, if the family court finds it to be reasonable and at the request of a person who shared living expenses with the decedent, who contributed to the medical treatment or care of the decedent, or who otherwise had a special connection with the decedent, the court may grant that person the residuum of the estate after liquidation, in whole or in part.

The request referred to in the preceding paragraph must be filed within three months of the expiration of the period referred to in Article 952, paragraph (2).

An estate not disposed of pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article escheats to the national treasury. The provisions of Article 956, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis in such a case.