With reference to the Civil Codes of Japan, inkyo means that the head of the family hands over his reigns of the family to the heir before his death, and in accordance with the enforcement of the law regarding emergent measures on Civil Codes due to enforcement of the Constitution of Japan (No.74 laws in 1947), head of the family system and inkyo system were abolished at the same time as the enforcement of the Constitution of Japan (May 3, 1947).
日本の民法上の制度としての隠居は、戸主が生前に家督を相続人へ譲ることを指し、日本国憲法の施行に伴う民法の応急的措置に関する法律（昭和22年法律第74号）により、日本国憲法の施行（1947年5月3日）と同時に、戸主制の廃止と共に隠居の制度は廃止された。