Chapter

One-half is the prescribed share of a single daughter; then it is for a single son’s daughter; then for a single full sister or paternal half-sister. Two-thirds is for two or more of each of these, provided that they are not made residuary heirs by a male relative, …

The author has included this chapter to explain the inheritance of female heirs: daughters, son’s daughters, full sisters, and paternal half-sisters.

His statement, “One-half is the prescribed share of a single daughter,” means that if a deceased person leaves one daughter, she receives one-half. If an uncle is with her, she receives one-half; if a father is with her, she receives one-half; and if a mother is with her, she receives one-half. Thus, the condition for a daughter to inherit one-half is that she be the only daughter: there must be no other daughter with her, nor a son.

His statement, “Then it is for a single son’s daughter,” means that if a deceased person leaves only one son’s daughter, she receives one-half. However, we add here the condition that there be no inheriting descendant above her. For example:

If a deceased person leaves a son’s daughter and a son, the son’s daughter does not inherit one-half, because there is an inheriting descendant closer than she is.

If a deceased person leaves a son’s daughter and a daughter, the son’s daughter does not inherit one-half, because there is an inheriting descendant closer than she is.

If a deceased person leaves a son’s daughter and another son’s daughter, she does not receive one-half, because she must be the only one. This is why he said, “Then it is for a single son’s daughter.” We have added another condition as well: that no descendant closer than she is be present.

His statement, “Then for a full sister,” means that, when there are no female descendants, one-half is for a full sister, on condition that she is the only one.