The Law Reform Commission is reviewing the law aimed at preventing a husband or wife retaining the home of their spouse if they have killed them.
The High Court recommended the review following the case of Eamonn Lillis, who killed his wife Celine Cawley, but still kept half their home in Howth, Co Dublin.
The commission is also examining the law in relation to the admissibility of criminal convictions in such cases.
It comes after Catherine Nevin, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of her husband Tom, tried to have evidence of her criminality excluded from the civil case.
The 1965 Succession Act is supposed to prevent a person who kills their husband or wife from retaining even a share in their victim's estate.
However, the effectiveness of that was called into question in the case of Lillis.
He was convicted of killing his wife Celine in December 2008.
She was hit three times with a brick at their home in Howth.
Lillis co-owned the home at Windgate Road on Howth Hill with his late wife.
It was held in joint tenancy and the High Court subsequently found Lillis was entitled to half of it, with the other half to be held in trust for the couple's daughter.
However, the court also recommended the law be reviewed.
The Law Reform Commission is now seeking submissions before compiling a final report next year.
It is also examining an issue raised in the Nevin case.
In her claim to their estate, she sought to have evidence of her criminality excluded from what was a civil case.
However, the court ruled against her.
Celine Cawley's brother, Chris, has welcomed the Law Reform Commission's decision.
Mr Cawley said it is the family's great hope that the review will lead to a change in the law so that other families do not have to go through what they went through.
Mr Cawley also said his sister would be very happy if the law was changed, and that the family would be making a submission to the commission.
The proceedings in the case took four years and seven months in the High Court and cost the family over €180,000 in legal costs, after which Lillis was awarded half the property.
Similar proceedings, in connection with a holiday home in France, took one year and seven months and cost €16,000.
In that instance, Lillis was awarded nothing, as he was found to be unworthy of retaining the property.
