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Heirs render themselves personally liable for the whole of their ancestor's debts, if they take the inheritance without reservation. For the purpose of inquiring whether the estate is more in value than the debts, they are allowed a year, called the annus deliberandi, after which the superior may compel them either to enter, or a creditor make them liable, or they must renounce the inheritance. (See Title to Land, 4.) An heir may enter cum beneficio inventarii, i.e., he may file an inventory of the estate, and declare that he is to be no further liable for the ancestor's debts than to the value of the estate.

Definition source
Kinnear, J. B., Digest of House of Lords Cases Decided on Appeal from Scotland, 1709-1864 — Glossary of Scottish Law Terms (Edinburgh, 1865). Public domain.

Legal Subject: Heir

Case Date Legal Subject Abstract
Durham v. Durham 1802 Heir, Succession, Prescription Thomas Durham, brother of Sarah and Janet Durham, died without issuing any settlement of disposition over the lands of Foulshiells. The lands of Foulshiells belonged formerly to Thomas Hamilton of Boghead, who was the great-grandfather of Thomas, Sarah and Janet Durham. Sarah claimed that she was the only one entitled to inherit the lands before mentioned without division, as heir-female and older sister, in virtue of the language of the old title-deeds. Also, she pointed out that Mr. Hamilton's intention was to transfer the land to anyone called to succeed (heirs in line) without division. He expressly mentioned it in the deed and it had been transferred like that. On the other hand, Janet argued that she had a joint right to the lands before mentioned with her sisters, as heir-portioner. Finally, the Court found that Sarah had the sole right of the lands as the older sister of Thomas.
Representatives of Laurie v. Bell 1797 Disposition, Succession, Sasine, Tack, Aliment, Heir The Representatives of Laurie, as suspender and holder of a four-fifths interest, sought suspension of a sale against Bell on the ground of a title defect affecting the share of the pupil Gilbert Laurie Finlay, son of the deceased Jean Laurie. Based on the single document cataloged for this case.
Robert Alexander v. Charles Dalrymple 1774 Title Dispute, Succession, Sasine, Heir, Infeftment, Feu duties Based on titles to the lands of Boghall and Dalmelling, Robert Alexander of Blackhouse sought to be enrolled as a freeholder in the county of Ayr. Charles Dalrymple of Orangefield objected to Alexander's enrollment on the ground that Dalrymple's family held prior titles to the claimed lands. The Court of Freeholders dismissed Alexander's claim, and he appealed to the Court of Session.
Robson v. Robson 1793 Succession, Disposition, Sasine, Aliment, Heir, Adjudication George Robson petitioned the Court to overturn Lord Ankerville's interlocutor concerning their father's settlement, which had favored George over his elder brother James. James Robson answered, asserting that the father had exercised a reserved power to alter the settlement by granting an acre in Jedburgh to James as heir at law. George replied, contending that James was not entitled to the acre because the term "heir" in the settlement referred to the legal heir rather than the heir of investiture.
William Little Gilmour v. Caroline Hunter 1799 Tack, Liferent, Lease, Succession, Heir, Assignation William Little Gilmour pursued Caroline Hunter regarding the lands of Barlaugh, seeking to void a long-term tack as violating a tailzie deed’s restriction against leasing beyond the lifetimes of the tailzie heirs, and claiming entitlement to continue in possession as lawful heir under his father’s will and by continuous possession after a thirty-eight-year lease. After an interlocutor rejected his claim to remain in possession, he petitioned for review of that decision. William Grieve, tenant of the lands, subsequently petitioned the Court to reconsider an inner-house interlocutor that had repelled his defences and decreed for his removing.

Documents discussing this subject (70)