v. to intentionally take actions to guarantee that a person who would normally inherit
upon a party's death (wife, child or closest relative) would get nothing. Usually
this is done by a provision in a will or codicil (amendment) to a will which states
that a specific person is not to take anything ("my son, Robert Hands, shall receive
nothing," "no descendant of my hated brother shall take anything on account of my
death. "). It is not enough to merely ignore or not mention a child in a will since
he/she may become a "pretermitted heir" (a child apparently forgotten). A spouse
can be disinherited only to the extent that the state law allows. A writer of a
will can also disinherit anyone who challenges the validity of the will in what
is called an "in terrorem" clause, which might say "I leave anyone who challenges
this will or any part of it one dollar. "
See also codicil descent descent and distribution heir in terrorem clause pretermitted
heir will
law dictionary, legal
dictionary, online law dictionary, legal terms dictionary,
online legal dictionary, legal definition, legal
terms and definition, Best online Dictionary, Law
Dictionary Software, Download Law Dictionary, law
dictionary, legal dictionary, online law dictionary,
legal terms dictionary, online legal dictionary,
legal definition, legal terms and definition, Best
online Dictionary, Law Dictionary Software, Download
Law Dictionary
