Do adopted children inherit from their biological parents? 

Q. Respected Mufti Saheb My birth parents gave me up for adoption to a relative. Lately my biological father passed way. Am I eligible to inherit from his estate?

A. In the case of adoption, an adopted child is not eligible to inherit from his/her adoptive parents. An adopted child may only receive a bequest up to one third of the estate from his/her adoptive parents if the adoptive parents made a bequest in favor of the adopted child.

In any event, an adopted child’s biological parents remain his/her biological parents even after adoption. Hence, in the case of an adopted child’s biological parents passing away, an adopted child will still inherit from his/her biological parents according to Islamic Law. Accordingly, as an adopted child, you are eligible to inherit from your biological father’s estate.

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

themufti.com