# 民法 / Civil Code — 第六章 (Part 5, Chapter 6) - Law: 民法 (Civil Code), 明治二十九年法律第八十九号 - English title "Civil Code": Ministry of Justice translation - Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say. - Provision: 第六章 (Part 5, Chapter 6) — address `pt-5/ch-6` - Text in force since: 2026-06-24 - URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/pt-5/ch-6 - Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-5/ch-6 - Every provision below carries its address and both URLs on the line under it. - Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below. Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names. They are never merged and never substituted for one another. --- ## 第六章　相続人の不存在 — Chapter VI Nonexistence of Heirs heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-5/ch-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/pt-5/ch-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-5/ch-6 ### 第九百五十一条（相続財産法人の成立） — (Formation of an Estate Corporation) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-951 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-951 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-951 **第一項** 相続人のあることが明らかでないときは、相続財産は、法人とする。 art-951/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-951/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-951/par-1 If it is not evident whether there is an heir, the decedent's estate is a corporation. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第九百五十二条（相続財産の清算人の選任） — Appointment of a Liquidator of the Estate caption: machine translation, not official art-952 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952 **第一項** 前条の場合には、家庭裁判所は、利害関係人又は検察官の請求によって、相続財産の清算人を選任しなければならない。 art-952/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-1 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. machine translation, not official **第二項** 前項の規定により相続財産の清算人を選任したときは、家庭裁判所は、遅滞なく、その旨及び相続人があるならば一定の期間内にその権利を主張すべき旨を公告しなければならない。この場合において、その期間は、六箇月を下ることができない。 art-952/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-2 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. machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十三条（不在者の財産の管理人に関する規定の準用） — (Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions on the Administrator of an Absentee's Property) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-953 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-953 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-953 **第一項** 第二十七条から第二十九条までの規定は、前条第一項の相続財産の清算人（以下この章において単に「相続財産の清算人」という。）について準用する。 art-953/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-953/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-953/par-1 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). machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十四条（相続財産の清算人の報告） — Reporting by the Liquidator of the Estate caption: machine translation, not official art-954 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-954 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-954 **第一項** 相続財産の清算人は、相続債権者又は受遺者の請求があるときは、その請求をした者に相続財産の状況を報告しなければならない。 art-954/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-954/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-954/par-1 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. machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十五条（相続財産法人の不成立） — (Non-formation of an Estate Corporation) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-955 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-955 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-955 **第一項** 相続人のあることが明らかになったときは、第九百五十一条の法人は、成立しなかったものとみなす。ただし、相続財産の清算人がその権限内でした行為の効力を妨げない。 art-955/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-955/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-955/par-1 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. machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十六条（相続財産の清算人の代理権の消滅） — Extinguishment of the Liquidator of the Estate's Authority to Represent caption: machine translation, not official art-956 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-956 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-956 **第一項** 相続財産の清算人の代理権は、相続人が相続の承認をした時に消滅する。 art-956/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-956/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-956/par-1 The Liquidator of the Estate's authority to represent is extinguished once an heir accepts the succession. machine translation, not official **第二項** 前項の場合には、相続財産の清算人は、遅滞なく相続人に対して清算に係る計算をしなければならない。 art-956/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-956/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-956/par-2 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. machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十七条（相続債権者及び受遺者に対する弁済） — (Making Payment or Delivery to the Creditors of the Succession and Legatees) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-957 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-957 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-957 **第一項** 第九百五十二条第二項の公告があったときは、相続財産の清算人は、全ての相続債権者及び受遺者に対し、二箇月以上の期間を定めて、その期間内にその請求の申出をすべき旨を公告しなければならない。この場合において、その期間は、同項の規定により相続人が権利を主張すべき期間として家庭裁判所が公告した期間内に満了するものでなければならない。 art-957/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-957/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-957/par-1 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. machine translation, not official **第二項** 第九百二十七条第二項から第四項まで及び第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで（第九百三十二条ただし書を除く。）の規定は、前項の場合について準用する。 art-957/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-957/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-957/par-2 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. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第九百五十八条（権利を主張する者がない場合） — (If No Person Asserts Rights as an Heir) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-958 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958 **第一項** 第九百五十二条第二項の期間内に相続人としての権利を主張する者がないときは、相続人並びに相続財産の清算人に知れなかった相続債権者及び受遺者は、その権利を行使することができない。 art-958/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958/par-1 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. machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十八条の二（特別縁故者に対する相続財産の分与） — (Distribution of the Estate to a Person with a Special Connection to the Decedent) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-958-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958-2 **第一項** 前条の場合において、相当と認めるときは、家庭裁判所は、被相続人と生計を同じくしていた者、被相続人の療養看護に努めた者その他被相続人と特別の縁故があった者の請求によって、これらの者に、清算後残存すべき相続財産の全部又は一部を与えることができる。 art-958-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958-2/par-1 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. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の請求は、第九百五十二条第二項の期間の満了後三箇月以内にしなければならない。 art-958-2/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958-2/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958-2/par-2 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). machine translation, not official ### 第九百五十九条（残余財産の国庫への帰属） — (Escheat of the Residuary Estate to the National Treasury) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-959 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-959 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-959 **第一項** 前条の規定により処分されなかった相続財産は、国庫に帰属する。この場合においては、第九百五十六条第二項の規定を準用する。 art-959/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-959/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-959/par-1 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. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System --- ## Cites - art-952/par-1: 前条 → 民法 第九百五十一条 (Article 951), art-951 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-951 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-951 - art-952/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第九百五十二条第一項 (Article 952, paragraph (1)), art-952/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-1 - art-953/par-1: 第二十七条から第二十九条まで → 民法 第二十七条 (Article 27), art-27 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-27 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-27 - art-953/par-1: 第二十七条から第二十九条まで → 民法 第二十八条 (Article 28), art-28 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-28 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-28 - art-953/par-1: 第二十七条から第二十九条まで → 民法 第二十九条 (Article 29), art-29 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-29 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-29 - art-953/par-1: 前条第一項 → 民法 第九百五十二条第一項 (Article 952, paragraph (1)), art-952/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-1 - art-955/par-1: 第九百五十一条 → 民法 第九百五十一条 (Article 951), art-951 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-951 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-951 - art-956/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第九百五十六条第一項 (Article 956, paragraph (1)), art-956/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-956/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-956/par-1 - art-957/par-1: 第九百五十二条第二項 → 民法 第九百五十二条第二項 (Article 952, paragraph (2)), art-952/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-2 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十七条第二項から第四項まで → 民法 第九百二十七条第二項 (Article 927, paragraph (2)), art-927/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-927/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-927/par-2 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十七条第二項から第四項まで → 民法 第九百二十七条第三項 (Article 927, paragraph (3)), art-927/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-927/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-927/par-3 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十七条第二項から第四項まで → 民法 第九百二十七条第四項 (Article 927, paragraph (4)), art-927/par-4 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-927/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-927/par-4 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百二十八条 (Article 928), art-928 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-928 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-928 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百二十九条 (Article 929), art-929 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-929 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-929 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十条 (Article 930), art-930 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-930 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-930 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十一条 (Article 931), art-931 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-931 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-931 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十二条 (Article 932), art-932 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-932 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-932 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十三条 (Article 933), art-933 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-933 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-933 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十四条 (Article 934), art-934 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-934 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-934 - art-957/par-2: 第九百二十八条から第九百三十五条まで → 民法 第九百三十五条 (Article 935), art-935 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-935 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-935 - art-957/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第九百五十七条第一項 (Article 957, paragraph (1)), art-957/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-957/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-957/par-1 - art-958/par-1: 第九百五十二条第二項 → 民法 第九百五十二条第二項 (Article 952, paragraph (2)), art-952/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-2 - art-958-2/par-1: 前条 → 民法 第九百五十八条 (Article 958), art-958 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958 - art-958-2/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第九百五十八条の二第一項 (Article 958-2, paragraph (1)), art-958-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958-2/par-1 - art-958-2/par-2: 第九百五十二条第二項 → 民法 第九百五十二条第二項 (Article 952, paragraph (2)), art-952/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-952/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-952/par-2 - art-959/par-1: 前条 → 民法 第九百五十八条の二 (Article 958-2), art-958-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-958-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-958-2 - art-959/par-1: 第九百五十六条第二項 → 民法 第九百五十六条第二項 (Article 956, paragraph (2)), art-956/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/civil-code/art-956/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-956/par-2 --- ## Sources - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 民法 — the text in force from 2026-06-24 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/129AC0000000089/20260624_508AC0000000045), retrieved 2026-10-11 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Civil Code — Ministry of Justice translation (part 2 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4275/tb), retrieved 2026-10-11 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Civil Code — Ministry of Justice translation (part 1 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4848/tb), retrieved 2026-10-11 - claude-sonnet-5-5 — Machine translation, batch civil-code-20261011T170941-007, translated 2026-10-12 - This site's parser, version 190 — 民法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-11