Fee Tail
A common law interest in land, now abolished in most states. The owner of land in fee tail is required to pass that land on to their children, who then may be required to pass it to their children. A fee tail is generally created when a deed uses the words "the heirs of his body," as in "to John Doe and the heirs of his body." In most jurisdictions in the United States, the fee tail has been abolished, and this language in a deed instead creates a fee simple.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
A form of real estate ownership, now abolished, that required property to be passed only to the descendants of a certain person.This kept land in the family indefinitely.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:16 pm
