Annotation

The author traced the changes in the goals of legal regulation and the functions of the hereditary mass and concluded how the ratio of private and public interests in this area of public relations was assessed at different periods of time. The author substantiates that at present, among the functions of the hereditary mass, the function of ensuring the stability of civil circulation comes to the fore, which is manifested in such institutions as the hereditary fund, hereditary contract, will, as well as inheritance by law. The stability of civil circulation in relation to the development of legal regulation of hereditary relations does not mean the invariability of such regulation, but calls for the flexibility of legal structures that are able to adapt to the needs of a rapidly developing world.