Absolute is used commonly in property law and in divorce law meaning final or without limitations.
Property:
- Absolute is used in property law to describe an estate that is free from any limitations.
- Only a fee simple may be absolute.
Divorce:
- An absolute divorce is a final judgment of divorce that dissolves the marriage and allows both parties to remarry.
- It severs all spousal rights (such as spousal privilege).
- Parties may no longer inherit from one another and all survivorship rights in property are considered as held jointly in common.
[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]