What should the right to inheritance look like in an ageing society? How can civil law promote the personal and financial well-being of the most vulnerable older people? These were some of the issues discussed at the conference "Un dret civil per a les persones grans? Repensar les institucions atenent a necessitats noves" (Civil law for older people? Rethinking institutions to meet new needs) held on 12 and 13 March at the Faculty of Law of the University of Barcelona.
"As the population ages, a group of people with specific needs, rights, preferences and aspirations is emerging. We need to consider how this affects civil institutions and, at the same time, ensure that older people play a leading role in initiatives for the future," said the conference organizers, Professors Jaume Tarabal and Elena Lauroba. In fact, the UB plans to include an optional module on law and older people in the next curriculum for the bachelor's degree in Law.
The conference featured contributions from academics from Catalan and Spanish universities, as well as from France and Italy. The legal experts' perspectives were complemented by those of experts in neurology and psychology. Topics analysed included the legal definition of an elderly person; how to structure the right to inheritance for a rapidly ageing society, with vulnerable testators and new ways of allocating assets as a form of recognition for care received; civil law institutions as tools for individuals' personal and financial well-being, for example, enduring preventive powers of attorney, maintenance agreements or protected estates; and the situation of older people in relation to consumer law. Current issues were also addressed, such as the Catalan reform of the law on persons with disabilities and the forthcoming United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
The final session consisted of a round-table discussion with female researchers leading projects related to the conference's theme. The results of this study were presented, and it was explained how public universities also disseminate knowledge in this field. A video message from Joan Manuel Serrat, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UB, was the most moving moment of the conference. The event concluded by remarks from sociologist Marina Subirats and the rector of the UB, Joan Guàrdia.
The conference was organized as part of the national project Mecanismes de previsió patrimonial en una societat envellida: vulnerabilitat, solidaritat i dret de béns (Wealth planning mechanisms in an ageing society: vulnerability, solidarity and property law). Among others, the Notarial Association of Catalonia, the University of Experience, the Societat Catalana d'Advocats de Família and the Associació Catalana d'Especialistes en Dret de Successions were involved.
