In the absence of any intimation to the contrary in a will, the word "child," the word "son", the word "daughter" or any word which expresses relationship, is to be understood as denoting only a legitimate relative, or, where there is no such legitimate relative, a person who has acquired, at the date of the Will, the reputation of being such relative.
Illustrations
(i) A having three children, B, C and A of whom B and Care legitimate and D is illegitimate leaves his property to be equally divided among "my children". The property belongs to B and C in equal shares, to the exclusion of D.
(ii) A, having a niece of illegitimate birth, who has acquired the reputation of being his niece and having no legitimate niece, bequeaths a sum of money to his niece. The illegitimate niece is entitled to the legacy.
(iii) A, having in his Will enumerated his children, and named as one of them B, who is illegitimate, leaves a legacy to "my said children". B Will take a share in the legacy along with the legitimate children.
(iv) A leaves a legacy to "the children of B". B is dead and has left none but illegitimate children. All those who had at the date of the Will acquired the reputation of being the children of B are objects of the gift.
(v) A bequeaths a legacy to "the children of B". B never had any legitimate child. C and D had, at the date of the Will, acquired the reputation of being children of B. After the date of the Will and before the death of the testator, E and F were born, and acquired the reputation of being children of B. Only C and D are objects of the bequest.
(vi) A makes a bequest in favour of his child by a certain woman, not his wife. B had acquired at the date of the Will the reputation of being the child of A by the woman designated. B takes the legacy.
(vii) A makes a bequest in favour of his child to be born of a woman who never becomes his wife. The bequest is void.
(viii) A makes a bequest in favour of the child of which a certain woman, not married to him, is pregnant. The bequest is void.
Illustrations
(i) A having three children, B, C and A of whom B and Care legitimate and D is illegitimate leaves his property to be equally divided among "my children". The property belongs to B and C in equal shares, to the exclusion of D.
(ii) A, having a niece of illegitimate birth, who has acquired the reputation of being his niece and having no legitimate niece, bequeaths a sum of money to his niece. The illegitimate niece is entitled to the legacy.
(iii) A, having in his Will enumerated his children, and named as one of them B, who is illegitimate, leaves a legacy to "my said children". B Will take a share in the legacy along with the legitimate children.
(iv) A leaves a legacy to "the children of B". B is dead and has left none but illegitimate children. All those who had at the date of the Will acquired the reputation of being the children of B are objects of the gift.
(v) A bequeaths a legacy to "the children of B". B never had any legitimate child. C and D had, at the date of the Will, acquired the reputation of being children of B. After the date of the Will and before the death of the testator, E and F were born, and acquired the reputation of being children of B. Only C and D are objects of the bequest.
(vi) A makes a bequest in favour of his child by a certain woman, not his wife. B had acquired at the date of the Will the reputation of being the child of A by the woman designated. B takes the legacy.
(vii) A makes a bequest in favour of his child to be born of a woman who never becomes his wife. The bequest is void.
(viii) A makes a bequest in favour of the child of which a certain woman, not married to him, is pregnant. The bequest is void.
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title.Section 2 · Definitions.Section 3 · Power of State Government to exempt any race, sect or tribe in the State from operation of Act.Section 4 · Application of Part.Section 5 · Law regulating succession to deceased person’s immoveable and moveable property, respectively.Section 6 · One domicile only affects succession to moveables.Section 7 · Domicile of origin of person of legitimate birth.Section 8 · Domicile of origin of illegitimate child.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 10 Oct 2026. Source metadata reports last modification: 2026-01-12. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.