New York’s “slayer rule” provides that a person who kills another person (commits homicide) forfeits any interest in the victim’s estate.[43] New York attorneys, Ilene S. Cooper and Jaclene D’Agostino, explain:
The rational is simple - no one should financially benefit from his or her own crime.[44]As noted above, however, deaths occurring in accordance with the Act will not be homicide as a matter of law. For this reason, there will be no slayer and therefore no crime. Perpetrators will be allowed to inherit.
Footnotes
[43] Ilene S. Cooper and Jaclene D'Agostino, "Forfeiture and New York's 'Slayer Rule', NYSBA Journal, March/April 2015, excerpt in the appendix at A-73.
[44] Id.
