Question of the Week

Q: If a Matara and a Nobek get together, they can't clan because there is not one of each breed. But if they still stay together as a couple like married couples do, why is it that she could not get what was his and even stuff they bought together if he dies? Can't he make a will to have it go to her? Wouldn't stuff they got together go to her?

A: It goes back to when the clan system was first introduced and there was a big push to get everyone to conform. Remember, there was a lot of fighting over the women (we're talking serious battles resulting in deaths, not barroom brawls), and the government was trying to end that. Making transfer of property contingent on a valid clanship was one tool to forward that agenda.

If the Matara (or Imdiko or Nobek) was in an unclanned relationship but had her name on jointly owned property with her lover, it would remain in her possession. If not, the deceased's recognized family (parent, children, siblings) could contest any such claim, even if the deceased named his/her lover as beneficiary. It could be challenged in court, but the whole process was made difficult and costly by design.

An Earther Matara makes it more complicated. Kalquorians have laws in place to keep other species from owning properties within the Empire. Yet they want Earther women to come and clan and make babies. Earther women can live and own a piece of property without a Kalquorian clan the same as a Kalquorian Matara, but she must earn her own keep (she's not getting the government living allowance unless she has a hybrid child), and she could not inherit anything not specifically willed to her...and again, it could easily be contested by her lover's next of kin.

Thanks for the question!

Do you have a question for me? If so, leave it in the comments and I might answer it in a future blog.