Page:The Marriage Laws of Soviet Russia (1921).pdf/18

 achievement of socialism, they have nevertheless a distinctly revolutionary character. Of this portion of the code Hoichharg says:

"While we were abolishing the private right of inheritance, it was impossible not to take into account the existence of individual families and the fact that free education and maintenance of children by society has not yet been thoroughly accomplished, and that the social insurance of all persons incapable of work has not yet been secured. For this reason, until these measures of social security have been realized, there has been preserved a certain form of succession, purely fortuitous and practical, intended to secure the well-being of the spouse and near relatives of the deceased, in so far as they may be in need and unable to work. The security afforded by these provisions, however, is extended to a much larger circle of persons, and with a greater probability of usefulness, than was afforded under the old laws of individualistic inheritance. In the first place, no distinction is made in this respect between relationship established by marriage and relationship by union outside of marriage. By the old laws a child born 'out of wedlock' had some right to be supported by the father during his life time, but on the death of the latter immediately lost all such rights. By the decree annulling the rights of inheritance such a child is secured equal rights with any other children to the receipt of support out of the estate of the deceased father. Secondly, by the old law it frequently happened that creditors of the deceased, having priority, received the entire estate and the successors nothing. By the decree annulling inheritance, the