What is the iron-curtain rule?

Art. 992 of the Civil Code provides that illegitimate children cannot inherit ab intestato from the legitimate children and relatives of his mother or father. Legitimate children and relatives cannot inherit in the same way from the illegitimate child.

Note: The iron curtain rule only applies in intestate succession. There is a barrier recognized by law between the legitimate relatives and the illegitimate child so that one cannot inherit from the other and vice-versa.

Rationale: The law presumes the existence of antagonism between the illegitimate child and the legitimate relatives of his parents.