TOKYO, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Japan's Supreme Court says a law that limits the share of a parent's estate that can be inherited by illegitimate children is unconstitutional.
Under the law, children born out of wedlock could receive only half the share available to legitimate siblings. The court found that violates the principal of equal treatment for all, The Mainichi reported Wednesday.
The last time the Supreme Court ruled on the issue, in 1995, it made the exact opposite decision. The court said then that the law protects both legitimate children by guaranteeing them a greater share of parental estates and their half-siblings by ensuring they will inherit something.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will try to get the current law changed to comply with the new ruling in a special parliamentary session this fall.
