Inheritance For Surviving Widows In Polygynous Marriage.

[sandyRoe]

What provision in law is there for such wives?

[bednobs]

it would depend on the will. in law, only the frst marriage would "count"

[Buenchico]

Any person who, for a period of two years prior to the death of the deceased, was living in the same house as them as if they were their spouse (OR any person who immediately prior to the death of the deceased was being maintained by them) has the right to petition a court to vary the terms of the deceased's will (or to vary the intestacy rules, as appropriate) in order that they may receive 'reasonable financial provision' from the deceased's estate:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/63

[Old_Geezer]

Did you not consider this before you married them all, Sandy ?
Make your will now and all should be ok.

[fiction-factory]

Buenchico's link seems to cover England & Wales.
The preamble at the start says:

An Act to make fresh provision for empowering the court to make orders for the making out of the estate of a deceased person of provision for the spouse, former spouse, child, child of the family or dependant of that person; and for matters connected therewith.

So it mentions spouses (and I assume now civil partners) but I can't see where it says anyone living with them as if they were spouse, but maybe that is covered in the detail later. If Buenchico is correct the Act would seem to cover a polygmous marriage.

[fiction-factory]

Which part of UK is this , Sandy?

[sandyRoe]

It's just a hypothetical question. I believe some religions allow a number of wives even though that wouldn't sit easily with UK law.

[Peter Pedant]

islamic polygamous marriages were recognised in english law in the seventies
their lordships said that it was ridic that lawful polyg marriages contracted outside England and Wales became bigamous when the lucky husband entered dear old Blighty - and so they recognised them

[ bigamous marriages are voidable by the way ( and not void ) that is the innocent party ( the dupe or patsy ) can enforce contracts made and dependent on the marriage if he or she wants ]

so there has to be someone who has done fambly law recently knocking around with the answer - I imagine each is treated like a wife and so hubby ends up with NOTHING !

You gonna ask me what the position of tala' is in English Law ( i divorce thee x 3 ) . No idea - they have to go thro the courts I imagine ....

[Old_Geezer]

I take it that the "lucky" was tongue in cheek. Multiple nagging wives, multiple mother-in-laws, doesn't bear thinking about ! Arrhhhhhhh !

[Bazile]

Old_Geezer ^^^^

Polygynous marriages tend to be in religous communities , where the females are seen but not heard

[sandyRoe]

But who can know what goes on behind the shutters of the seraglio?