# 民法 / Civil Code — 第二章 (Part 5, Chapter 2)

- 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: 第二章 (Part 5, Chapter 2) — address `pt-5/ch-2`
- Text in force since: 2026-06-24
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/pt-5/ch-2
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-5/ch-2
- 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.

---

## 第二章　相続人 — Chapter II Heirs
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>pt-5/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/pt-5/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-5/ch-2</sup>

### 第八百八十六条（相続に関する胎児の権利能力） — (Unborn Child's Legal Capacity to Hold Rights of Succession)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-886 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-886 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-886</sup>

  **第一項**  胎児は、相続については、既に生まれたものとみなす。
  <sup>art-886/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-886/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-886/par-1</sup>
  An unborn child is deemed to have already been born as regards succession.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  前項の規定は、胎児が死体で生まれたときは、適用しない。
  <sup>art-886/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-886/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-886/par-2</sup>
  The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply if the child is stillborn.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百八十七条（子及びその代襲者等の相続権） — (Right of Inheritance of Children and Their Heirs, Per Stirpes)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-887 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887</sup>

  **第一項**  被相続人の子は、相続人となる。
  <sup>art-887/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887/par-1</sup>
  The children of the decedent become heirs thereof.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  被相続人の子が、相続の開始以前に死亡したとき、又は第八百九十一条の規定に該当し、若しくは廃除によって、その相続権を失ったときは、その者の子がこれを代襲して相続人となる。ただし、被相続人の直系卑属でない者は、この限りでない。
  <sup>art-887/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887/par-2</sup>
  If a child of the decedent dies before the opening of the succession or loses the right of inheritance through the application of the provisions of Article 891 or through disinheritance, the children of such a child become heirs of the decedent, per stirpes; provided, however, that this does not apply to a person who is not a lineal descendant of the decedent.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第三項**  前項の規定は、代襲者が、相続の開始以前に死亡し、又は第八百九十一条の規定に該当し、若しくは廃除によって、その代襲相続権を失った場合について準用する。
  <sup>art-887/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887/par-3</sup>
  The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis if a person who would have become an heir per stirpes dies before the opening of the succession or if that person loses the right to take per stirpes through the application of the provisions of Article 891 or through disinheritance.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百八十八条  〔削除 / repealed〕
<sup>art-888 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-888 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-888</sup>

  **第一項**  削除
  <sup>art-888/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-888/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-888/par-1</sup>
  Deleted
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百八十九条（直系尊属及び兄弟姉妹の相続権） — (Right of Inheritance of Lineal Ascendants and Siblings)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-889 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889</sup>

  **第一項**  次に掲げる者は、第八百八十七条の規定により相続人となるべき者がない場合には、次に掲げる順序の順位に従って相続人となる。
  <sup>art-889/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889/par-1</sup>
  If no one becomes an heir pursuant to the provisions of Article 887, the following persons become heirs in accordance with their places in the line of succession, in the following order:
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  被相続人の直系尊属。ただし、親等の異なる者の間では、その近い者を先にする。
    <sup>art-889/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889/par-1/item-1</sup>
    lineal ascendants of the decedent; provided, however, that between persons of differing degrees of kinship, persons of a closer degree of kinship to the decedent have priority in inheritance;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  被相続人の兄弟姉妹
    <sup>art-889/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889/par-1/item-2</sup>
    siblings of the decedent.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  第八百八十七条第二項の規定は、前項第二号の場合について準用する。
  <sup>art-889/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889/par-2</sup>
  The provisions of Article 887, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis in a case as referred to in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十条（配偶者の相続権） — (Spousal Right of Inheritance)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-890 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-890 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-890</sup>

  **第一項**  被相続人の配偶者は、常に相続人となる。この場合において、第八百八十七条又は前条の規定により相続人となるべき者があるときは、その者と同順位とする。
  <sup>art-890/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-890/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-890/par-1</sup>
  The spouse of the decedent always becomes an heir. In this, if someone is to become an heir pursuant to the provisions of Article 887 or the preceding Article, the spouse takes the same place in the line of succession as that person.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十一条（相続人の欠格事由） — (Grounds for Ineligibility as an Heir)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-891 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891</sup>

  **第一項**  次に掲げる者は、相続人となることができない。
  <sup>art-891/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1</sup>
  None of the following persons may become heirs of the decedent:
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  故意に被相続人又は相続について先順位若しくは同順位にある者を死亡するに至らせ、又は至らせようとしたために、刑に処せられた者
    <sup>art-891/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1/item-1</sup>
    a person who has received a criminal sentence for intentionally causing or attempting to cause the death of the decedent or the death of a person with an equal or prior place in the line of succession;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  被相続人の殺害されたことを知って、これを告発せず、又は告訴しなかった者。ただし、その者に是非の弁別がないとき、又は殺害者が自己の配偶者若しくは直系血族であったときは、この限りでない。
    <sup>art-891/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1/item-2</sup>
    a person who knows that the decedent was killed by someone but made no formal accusation or criminal complaint about this; provided, however, that this does not apply if the person cannot discern right from wrong, or if the killer was that person's spouse or lineal relative;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **三**  詐欺又は強迫によって、被相続人が相続に関する遺言をし、撤回し、取り消し、又は変更することを妨げた者
    <sup>art-891/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1/item-3</sup>
    a person who has prevented the decedent from making, revoking, rescinding, or changing a will as regards succession, through fraud or duress;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **四**  詐欺又は強迫によって、被相続人に相続に関する遺言をさせ、撤回させ、取り消させ、又は変更させた者
    <sup>art-891/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1/item-4</sup>
    a person who has forced the decedent to make, revoke, rescind, or change a will as regards succession, through fraud or duress; or
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **五**  相続に関する被相続人の遺言書を偽造し、変造し、破棄し、又は隠匿した者
    <sup>art-891/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891/par-1/item-5</sup>
    a person who forges, alters, destroys, or conceals the will of the decedent as regards succession.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十二条（推定相続人の廃除） — (Disinheritance of a Presumptive Heir)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-892 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-892 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-892</sup>

  **第一項**  遺留分を有する推定相続人（相続が開始した場合に相続人となるべき者をいう。以下同じ。）が、被相続人に対して虐待をし、若しくはこれに重大な侮辱を加えたとき、又は推定相続人にその他の著しい非行があったときは、被相続人は、その推定相続人の廃除を家庭裁判所に請求することができる。
  <sup>art-892/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-892/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-892/par-1</sup>
  A person leaving an estate may file a request with the family court to disinherit a presumptive heir (meaning a person who would become an heir if the succession were to open; the same applies hereinafter) for whom there is statutory reserved share, if the presumptive heir has abused or given grave insult to the person leaving the estate, or if there has been any other grave misconduct on the part of the presumptive heir.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十三条（遺言による推定相続人の廃除） — (Disinheritance of a Presumptive Heir by Will)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-893 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-893 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-893</sup>

  **第一項**  被相続人が遺言で推定相続人を廃除する意思を表示したときは、遺言執行者は、その遺言が効力を生じた後、遅滞なく、その推定相続人の廃除を家庭裁判所に請求しなければならない。この場合において、その推定相続人の廃除は、被相続人の死亡の時にさかのぼってその効力を生ずる。
  <sup>art-893/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-893/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-893/par-1</sup>
  If the decedent, by will, has manifested the intention to disinherit a presumptive heir, the executor of the will must apply to the family court to disinherit the presumptive heir without delay after the will becomes effective. The disinheritance of that presumptive heir is effective retroactive to the time of death of the decedent, in such a case.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十四条（推定相続人の廃除の取消し） — (Rescission of the Disinheritance of a Presumptive Heir)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-894 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-894 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-894</sup>

  **第一項**  被相続人は、いつでも、推定相続人の廃除の取消しを家庭裁判所に請求することができる。
  <sup>art-894/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-894/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-894/par-1</sup>
  A person leaving an estate may at any time file a request with the family court to rescind the disinheritance of a presumptive heir.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  前条の規定は、推定相続人の廃除の取消しについて準用する。
  <sup>art-894/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-894/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-894/par-2</sup>
  The provisions of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the rescission of the disinheritance of a presumptive heir.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八百九十五条（推定相続人の廃除に関する審判確定前の遺産の管理） — (Administration of the Estate before a Ruling Involving the Disinheritance of a Presumptive Heir Becomes Final and Binding)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-895 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-895 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-895</sup>

  **第一項**  推定相続人の廃除又はその取消しの請求があった後その審判が確定する前に相続が開始したときは、家庭裁判所は、親族、利害関係人又は検察官の請求によって、遺産の管理について必要な処分を命ずることができる。推定相続人の廃除の遺言があったときも、同様とする。
  <sup>art-895/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-895/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-895/par-1</sup>
  If succession opens after a request is filed to disinherit a presumptive heir or to rescind the disinheritance of the same but before the ruling on this becomes final and binding, the family court may order any necessary measures with regard to the administration of the estate at the request of a relative, an interested party, or the public prosecutor. The same applies if the decedent has left a will in which a presumptive heir is disinherited.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  第二十七条から第二十九条までの規定は、前項の規定により家庭裁判所が遺産の管理人を選任した場合について準用する。
  <sup>art-895/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-895/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-895/par-2</sup>
  The provisions of Article 27 through Article 29 apply mutatis mutandis if the family court appoints an administrator to the estate pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

---

## Cites
- art-886/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第八百八十六条第一項 (Article 886, paragraph (1)), art-886/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-886/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-886/par-1
- art-887/par-2: 第八百九十一条 → 民法 第八百九十一条 (Article 891), art-891 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891
- art-887/par-3: 前項 → 民法 第八百八十七条第二項 (Article 887, paragraph (2)), art-887/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887/par-2
- art-887/par-3: 第八百九十一条 → 民法 第八百九十一条 (Article 891), art-891 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-891 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-891
- art-889/par-1: 第八百八十七条 → 民法 第八百八十七条 (Article 887), art-887 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887
- art-889/par-2: 第八百八十七条第二項 → 民法 第八百八十七条第二項 (Article 887, paragraph (2)), art-887/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887/par-2
- art-889/par-2: 前項第二号 → 民法 第八百八十九条第一項第二号 (Article 889, paragraph (1), item (ii)), art-889/par-1/item-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889/par-1/item-2
- art-890/par-1: 第八百八十七条 → 民法 第八百八十七条 (Article 887), art-887 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-887 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-887
- art-890/par-1: 前条 → 民法 第八百八十九条 (Article 889), art-889 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-889 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-889
- art-894/par-2: 前条 → 民法 第八百九十三条 (Article 893), art-893 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-893 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-893
- art-895/par-2: 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/ja/civil-code/art-27 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-27
- art-895/par-2: 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/ja/civil-code/art-28 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-28
- art-895/par-2: 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/ja/civil-code/art-29 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-29
- art-895/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第八百九十五条第一項 (Article 895, paragraph (1)), art-895/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-895/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-895/par-1

---

## 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
- This site's parser, version 190 — 民法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-11