Inheritance
![From William Hogarth's A Rake's Progress.](/Images/godic/202502/13/William_Hogarth_-_A_Rake's_Progress_-_Plate_1_-_The_Young_Heir_Takes_Possession_Of_The_Miser's_Effects3839.jpg")
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies. The rules of inheritance differ between societies and have changed over time.