Legal rights relating to wills and estates are primarily governed by which type of law?

The governance of legal rights relating to wills and estates falls primarily under wills and probate law. This area of law specifically deals with the distribution of a deceased person's estate, the validity of wills, and the administration of estates. It outlines the processes and procedures for how a will is executed and how assets are managed and transferred based on the wishes of the deceased.

Wills and probate law establishes the legal framework for these processes, ensuring that the deceased's wishes are honored and that heirs are properly identified and treated according to the law. This includes handling disputes that may arise over the validity of a will, the appointment of executors, and the settlement of debts owed by the estate.

While criminal law addresses violations of statutes and usually involves actions that are offenses against the public, contract law focuses on agreements between two or more parties and is not the primary concern when it comes to wills. Property law, on the other hand, relates generally to ownership and rights regarding real or personal property, but it is the specific laws surrounding wills and the probate process that govern the distribution of an individual's estate upon death. Thus, wills and probate law is distinctly focused on the matters pertinent to managing and executing the wishes expressed in a will.