Discovery of Third-Party Entitlement as to Dowry After Death of Husband: Ways of Demanding Dowry and Damages Sustained

In permanent marriage, wherein the dowry of wife is defined as a specific and non-transferrable immovable property, and after the death of husband, it is discovered that the dowry belongs to another person, making a substitute for the dowry is put on the deceased's heirs. However, uncertainties regarding the valuation of the property and the extent of recoverable damages, such as issues pertaining to the time of property valuation and the possibility of claiming damages resulting from devaluation emerge. The current research, following the silence of Iranian lawmaker, by virtue of jurisprudential texts and using an analytical-descriptive method scrutinizes the aforementioned matters. A comparative study of the aspects and consequences of the subject based on the foundations and rulings of similar matters such as responsibility against non-belonging of subject matter or price of contract and unauthorized contracts, and taking into account other jurisprudential and legal instruments, it is concluded that the day on which the husband becomes debtor for the dowry substitute coincidences with the day on which the real owner of the property does not affirm the allocation of the property to the wife. Concerning the possibility of seeking compensation by wife, in cases where the due date is different from the date on which the husband became debtor accompanied by devaluation, only damages incurred by the wife will be recoverable in accordance with Articles 515 and 522 of the Code of Civil Procedure and are limited to those losses sustained during the husband's lifetime.