Dictionary of Law
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estate :: legal definition


Estate - n. 1) all that one owns in real estate and other assets. 2) commonly, all the possessions of one who has died and are subject to probate (administration supervised by the court) and distribution to heirs and beneficiaries, all the possessions which a guardian manages for a ward (young person requiring protection and administration of affairs), or assets a conservator manages for a conservatee (a person whose physical or mental lack of competence requires administration of his/her affairs). 3) an alternative term for real property interest which is used in conjunction with another defining word, like "life estate," "estate for years," or "real estate."

See also: conservator guardian life estate probate real estate will and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien
abstract of title :: n. the written report on a title search which show ... e also: chain of title title report
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
advancement :: n. a gift made by a person to one of his or her ch ... tate gift in contemplation of death
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
after-acquired title :: n. title to property acquired after the owner atte ... ed title goes automatically to Sam.
ancillary administration :: n. administration of an estate's assets in another ... or "subordinate." See also: probate
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
attorney-in-fact :: n. someone specifically named by another through a ... cument. See also: power of attorney
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
claim against an estate :: n. upon the death of a person and beginning of pro ... ade to the heirs. See also: probate
codicil :: n. a written amendment to a person's will, which m ... the writer. See also: probate will
conservatee :: n. a person whom a court has determined because of ... and the like. See also: conservator
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
contingent interest :: n. an interest in real property which, according t ... ontingent remainder future interest
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
curtesy :: n. in old common law, the right of a surviving hus ... ommunity property dower life estate
devisee :: n. a person who receives a gift of real property b ... will. See also: beneficiary legatee
escrow instructions :: n. the written instructions by buyer and seller of ... ir agents. See also: closing escrow
executor :: n. the person appointed to administer the estate o ... sed decedent executrix probate will
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
gift in contemplation of death :: n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
hostile possession :: n. occupancy of a piece of real property coupled w ... verse possession quiet title action
in kind :: adj. referring to payment, distribution or substit ... . See also: distribution trust will
incompetent :: adj. 1) referring to a person who is not able to m ... n incompetency incompetent evidence
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
insured :: n. 1) the person or entity who will be compensated ... s go to others. See also: insurance
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
intestacy :: n. the condition of having died without a valid wi ... e. See also: intestate probate will
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate
letters testamentary :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... te. See also: administrator probate
leverage :: 1) n. the use of borrowed money to purchase real e ... e been created by risky leveraging.
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
Massachusetts Trust :: n. a business in which the investors give manageme ... provide for eventual distribution.
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
net estate :: n. the remaining estate of a person who has died, ... alue. See also: estate tax gift tax
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
notice to quit :: n. the notice given by a landlord (owner) to a ten ... h-to-month notice unlawful detainer
parcel :: n. a defined piece of real estate, usually resulti ... See also: real estate real property
possessory interest :: n. in real estate, the intent and right of a perso ... o: possess possession real property
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
premises :: n. 1) in real estate, land and the improvements on ... t). See also: real estate structure
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
probation :: n. a chance to remain free (or serve only a short ... See also: attorney-client privilege
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit.
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
remainder :: n. in real property law, the interest in real prop ... ed reversion title vested remainder
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
straw man :: n. 1) a person to whom title to property or a busi ... a trail will mislead hunting dogs).
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
trade fixture :: n. a piece of equipment on or attached to the real ... uch damage. See also: fixture trade
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
unlawful detainer :: n. 1) keeping possession of real property without ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

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 - E

earnest payment :: n. a deposit paid to demonstrate commitment and to ... (liquidated) or committed damages.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
egress :: n. way of departure. A word usually used in conjun ... unction with "access" or "ingress."
EIR :: n. popular acronym for environmental impact report ... e also: environmental impact report
ejectment :: n. a lawsuit brought to remove a party who is occu ... o the property through her parents.
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
election under the will :: n. in those states which have statutes which give ... arries) left to her under his will.
eleemosynary :: (eh-luh-moss-uh-nary) adj. charitable, as applied ... pplied to a purpose or institution.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
embezzlement :: n. the crime of stealing the funds or property of ... in trust. See also: embezzler theft
embezzler :: n. a person who commits the crime of embezzlement ... r property of an employer or trust.
emblements :: n. crops to which a tenant who cultivated the land ... ome the property of his/her estate.
emergency :: n. a sudden, unforeseen happening which requires a ... r to protect lives and/or property.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
emolument :: n. salary, wages and benefits paid for employment ... d for employment or an office held.
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment