What does the slayer rule entail?

The slayer rule is fundamentally about ensuring that individuals who unlawfully kill another person do not benefit from the death of their victim, which aligns with the principle of justice and fairness in the distribution of an estate. This rule prevents a murderer from inheriting any assets or benefits from the decedent’s estate. The rationale behind the slayer rule is that it is against public policy for a person to profit from their wrongful act of killing.

In the context of estates and inheritance, the rule typically requires that the murderer is treated as if they predeceased the victim for purposes of inheritance and will provisions. The estate would then be distributed as though the slayer had never existed, ensuring that the assets go to other rightful heirs rather than to someone who engaged in criminal behavior.

This principle protects the integrity of the legal system by discouraging violent acts motivated by a direct financial gain from the death. Consequently, the application of the slayer rule serves to uphold the moral and ethical stance that wrongdoing should not be rewarded.