Dictionary of Law
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inheritance :: legal definition


Inheritance - n. whatever one receives upon the death of a relative due to the laws of descent and distribution, when there is no will. However, inheritance has come to mean anything received from the estate of a person who has died, whether by the laws of descent or as a beneficiary of a will or trust.

See also: descent and distribution heir heiress inherit intestacy intestate succession will and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

claim in bankruptcy :: n. the written claim filed by persons or businesse ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
descent and distribution :: n. the system of laws which determine who will inh ... nt inheritance intestate succession
distribute :: v. 1) the dividing up of those assets of an estate ... and distribution probate trust will
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
intestate succession :: n. the distribution when a person dies without lea ... sion. See also: intestacy intestate
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
next of kin :: n. 1) the nearest blood relatives of a person who ... See also: descent and distribution
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
residue :: n. in a will, the assets of the estate of a person ... distribution residuary bequest will
separate property :: n. in community property states (California, Texas ... pouse. See also: community property

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture