Inheritance in the Wizarding World

[Eustace_Scrubb]

No: HPFGUIDX 95961

Robert Jones summarized the issues neatly:
> The discussion of Sirius as Harry's godfather brings up the issue
of 
> inheritance.  It has been discussed before without any consensus.  
> Here are a bunch of issues.
> 
> <numerous snips>
> 
> (2) Now that Sirius is dead (yes he's dead), who inherits?  Did he 
> leave a will and is it enforceable after he was convicted?  If he 
> didn't leave a will, why would Harry be next in line?  Does a
godson 
> inherit rather than a blood relative like a cousin, or nobody?  Is 
> Sirius officially appointed "guardian" and does this make a 
> difference?

Now Eustace_Scrubb begins the inevitable splintering:

If I'm understanding the "Godparents" thread correctly, I don't think
that there would be an assumption that godchildren inherit; it would
have to be in a will.

Now, if Sirius left "stuff" (galleons, mementoes, Grimmauld Place) to
Harry, a minor, in his will, and said will was enforceable, it might
well be that Harry's legal guardian(s) would be charged with
shepherding those resources until he comes of age.  So who is/are
Harry's guardians?  Petunia and Vernon Dursley.  Certainly the muggle
world sees them as legally responsible for their nephew and so does
the WW, de facto.  Harry would not think highly of them as conservers
of _his_ inheritance.  Neither would Sirius.  So perhaps the executor
of the will or some other designated individual would be the
conservator (is that the right term?)--Dumbledore? Lupin?

We have wizard bureaucrats and wizard businessmen.  I imagine there
must be quite a few wizard lawyers as well?

Cheers,

Eustace_Scrubb