COMMENT: Adopted Child’s Right of Inheritance from the Family of Origin

The relationship between adopted child and his/her family of adoption and family of origin is regulated under the Revised Family Code Proclamation No. 213/2000. Accordingly, the adopted child shall retain his/her bond with the family of origin in addition to his/her close relationship with the family of adoption by considering him/her, for all purposes, as the child of the adopter.  One of the issues that arises in connection with a child’s relationship with his/her family of origin and family of adoption is the right to inheritance. In particular, the issue arises whether the adopted child can inherit his/her family of origin (through intestate succession) while s/he is deemed to be the child of the adopter and bestowed with all rights and duties including inheritance. The assurance of inheritance right to the adopted child from the estate of his/her family of origin depends upon how much the bond with his/her family of origin is maintained. This article focuses on the legal regime with regard to the adopted child’s relationship with his/her family of origin with particular emphasis on the adopted child’s right to inherit his/her family of origin, in Ethiopia.