DEMISE
demise (di-mIz), n.1. The conveyance of an estate, usu. for a term of years; a lease <the
demise of the land for one year>.2. The instrument by which such a conveyance is accomplished
<the demise set forth the terms of the transfer>.3. The passing of property by descent or bequest
<a testator’s demise of $100,000 to charity>.4. The death of a person or (figuratively) of a thing
<the corporation’s untimely demise>. See DEATH. — Abbr. dem. — demise,vb.
demise of the Crown.The immediate, automatic transfer of a kingdom to a successor upon a
sovereign’s death or long absence from the throne.
“The king never dies. Henry, Edward, or George may die; but the king survives them all. For
immediately upon the decease of the reigning prince in his natural capacity, his kingship or
imperial dignity, by act of law, without any … interval, is vested at once in his heir; who is, eo
instanti, king to all intents and purposes. And so tender is the law of supposing even a possibility
of his death, that his natural dissolution is generally called his demise… an expression which signifies merely a transfer of property; for … when we say the demise of the crown, we mean only
that, in consequence of the disunion of the king’s body natural from his body politic, the kingdom
is transferred or demised to his successor; and so the royal dignity remains perpetual.” 1 William
Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 242 (1765).
joint demise.In an ejectment action, a demise made by two or more persons in one
declaration. [Cases: Ejectment 65. C.J.S. Ejectment § 61.]
separate demise.In an ejectment action, a demise made solely by the lessor.
several demise.(often pl.) Hist. In an ejectment action, a list of demises by all people
potentially owning the property at issue, used to ensure that the plaintiff had proved a lease from
the person actually having title. See EJECTMENT.
single demise.In an ejectment action, a declaration containing one demise. See EJECTMENT.
[Cases: Ejectment 65. C.J.S. Ejectment § 61.] [Blacks Law 8th]