What is the extent of inheritance?
The transmission of property, rights, and obligations, is essentially gratuitous in nature in succession. Transfer of ownership by way of succession is sometimes referred to as donation mortis causa. The transfer is solely dependent on the liberality of the decedent — clear and express by will in testamentary succession, and assumed and implied by law in intestate succession. When an heir succeeds, the obligations which he inherits may not be more than the value of the property and rights received by him. Otherwise, if he has to pay an amount greater than what he has received, the purpose of the inheritance, to bequeath a gift to the heir, is negated. (Mison)