DISINHERITANCE

disinheritance,n.1.  The  act by  which  an  owner  of  an  estate deprives  a  would-be  heir  of  the

expectancy to inherit the estate. • A testator may expressly exclude or limit the right of a person or

a  class  to  inherit  property  that  the  person  or  class  would  have  inherited  through  intestate

succession,  but  only  if  the  testator  devises  all  the  property  to  another.  [Cases:  Descent  and

Distribution    47(2). C.J.S. Descent and Distribution § 53.] 2. The state of being disinherited. See

forced heir under HEIR. — Also termed disherison; disinherison; deherison. — disinherit,vb.

negative  disinheritance.The  act  by  which  a  testator  attempts  to  exclude  a  person  from

inheritance without disposing of the property to another. • Negative disinheritance is ineffective at

common law, although today it may be permitted by statute. [Blacks Law 8th]