Legal Term Dictionary

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  • ESTATE IN COMMON
    An estate in lands held by two or more persons, with interests accruing under different titles; or accruing under the same title, but at different periods; or conferred by words of limitation importing that the grantees are to take in distinct shares. 1 Steph. Comm. 323. See TENANCY IN COMMON.
  • ESTATE IN COPARCENARY
    An estate which several persons hold as one heir, whether male or female. This estate has the three unities of time, title, and possession; but the interests of the coparceners may be unequal. 1 Washb. Real Prop. 414; 2 BL Comm. 188. See COPARCENARY.
  • ESTATE IN DOWER
    A species of life-estate which a woman is, by law, entitled to claim on the death of her husband, in the lands and tenements of which he was seised in fee during the marriage, and which, her issue, if any, might by possibility have inherited. 3 Steph. Comm. 249; 2 More...
  • ESTATE IN EXPECTANCY
    One which is not yet in possession, but the enjoyment of which is to begin at a future time; a present or vested contingent right of future enjoyment. These are remainders and reversions. Fenton v. Miller, 108 Mich. 246, 65 N. W. 966; In re Mericlo, 63 How. Prac. (N. More...
  • ESTATE IN FEE-SIMPLE
    The estate which a man has where lands are given to him and to his heirs absolutely without any end or limit put to his estate. 2 Bl. Comm. 106; Plowd. 557; 1 Prest. Est 425; Litt. I 1. The word "fee," used alone, is a sufficient designation of this More...
  • ESTATE IN FEE-TAIL
    Generally termed an "estate tail." An estate of inheritance which a man has, to hold to him and the heirs of his body, or to him and particular heirs of his body. 1 Steph. Comm. 228. An estate of inheritance by force of the statute De Donis, limited and restrained More...
  • ESTATE IN JOINT TENANCY
    An estate in lands or tenements granted to two or more persons, to hold in fee-simple, fee-tail, for life, for years, or at will. 2 Bl. Comm. 180; 2 Crabb, Real Prop. 937. An estate acquired by two or more persons in the same land, by the same title, (not More...
  • ESTATE IN POSSESSION
    An estate whereby a present interest passes to and resides in the tenant, not depending on any subsequent circumstance or contingency. 2 Bl. Comm. 163. An estate where the tenant is in actual pernancy, or receipt of the rents and other advantages arising therefrom. 2 Crabb, Real Prop. p. 958 More...
  • ESTATE IN REMAINDER
    An estate limited to take effect in possession, or in enjoyment, or in both, subject only to any term of years or contingent interest that may intervene, immediately after the regular expiration of a particular estate of freehold previously created together with it, by the same instrument out of the More...
  • ESTATE IN REVERSION
    A species of estate in expectancy, created by operation of law, being the residue of an estate left in the grantor, to commence in possession after the determination of some particular estate granted out by him. 2 B1. Comm. 175; 2 Crabb, Real Prop. p. 978, s 2845. The residue More...
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