Widow - Widow

In legal terms, the spouse whose partner has died is called the surviving spouse, and the surviving spouse is called the widow. A widow always inherits her husband's (spouse's) property (Article 890 of the Civil Code). The share of the inheritance varies depending on who she shares with among her husband's children, lineal ascendants, siblings, etc. (Article 900 of the same code).

Even if a woman becomes a widow, she does not automatically revert to her maiden name, nor does her in-laws with her husband's relatives end. If she wishes to revert to her maiden name, she must submit separate notifications to the mayor of the city, ward, town or village in accordance with Article 751, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Code and Article 95 of the Family Registration Act, while if she wishes to dissolve her in-laws, she must submit separate notifications to the mayor of the city, ward or town in accordance with Article 728, Paragraph 2 of the Civil Code and Article 96 of the Family Registration Act. As surviving family members, widows are eligible to receive various benefits, including widow's pensions. As a general rule, widows cannot remarry for 100 days after the death of their husband (remarriage prohibition period, Civil Code Article 733, Paragraph 1).

[Yasuyuki Takahashi and Masamitsu Nozawa, September 16, 2016]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

法律上の用語で、相手方が死亡した配偶者を生存配偶者といい、生存配偶者である妻を寡婦という。寡婦はつねに夫（配偶者）の財産の相続人となる（民法890条）。その相続分は、夫の子・直系尊属・兄弟姉妹などのうち、だれと共同で相続するかによって異なる（同法900条）。

　寡婦となっても自動的には結婚前の氏には戻らず、夫の親族との姻族関係も消滅しない。結婚前の氏に戻す場合は民法751条1項、戸籍法95条に基づき、姻族関係を解消する場合は民法728条2項、戸籍法96条に基づき、それぞれ別個に市区町村長への届出が必要である。寡婦は遺族として寡婦年金をはじめ、さまざまな給付を受ける資格がある。なお原則として、夫の死後100日間は再婚することができない（再婚禁止期間・民法733条1項）。

［高橋康之・野澤正充　2016年9月16日］

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