Dependents benefits are social security proceeds which may be received by those who rely on the primary recipient’s income. Dependents benefits often take the form of survivor benefits, although in some circumstances dependents may receive benefits while the recipient still lives.
A descendant is a person born in a direct biological line. For example, a person's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are their descendants. In legal writing, the term "descendant" can have multiple meanings, including those who have been adopted as well as those who are descendants through lineal consanguinity.
Devise refers to a gift given by means of the will of a decedent of an interest in real property.
[Last reviewed in August of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
A devisee is a person who receives a gift of some interest in real property from a decedent's will.
[Last reviewed in August of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]
A directive to physicians and family (also called living wills, health care directives, and advance directives) are legal mechanisms where an individual can choose to prevent medical personnel from using life sustaining treatments for life-threatening health situations.
Disclaimer trust refers to a type of trust used by spouses to limit estate taxes. Spouses can agree to move assets the other spouse will receive upon their death into an irrevocable trust in their wills. This only occurs if the spouse chooses not to inherit the assets outright.
A discretionary power of appointment is distinguished from a mandatory power of appointment in that its exercise is optional. The power is valid so long as there is at least one person who reasonably fits the description of the class whose favor in which the power can be exercised (the objects of the power). If the person with power of appointment (
To disinherit is to intentionally deny an inheritance. For example, an owner of an estate may deprive their legal heir(s) from inheriting their estate by excluding them from their will.
