Legal Definitions - aliquot

The term aliquot refers to a fractional part or a specific share of a larger whole. In legal contexts, it often denotes a portion that can be precisely separated or divided from a greater quantity, without any remainder.

This term is frequently encountered in areas such as property law, where it might describe a specific percentage or share of ownership in an asset, and in trust law, concerning the division of trust assets among beneficiaries. In the context of land surveying, particularly within the United States Public Land Survey System, an "aliquot part" specifically refers to a standard legal subdivision of a larger section of land, typically into halves or quarters. Additionally, in scientific or patent-related contexts, an aliquot can be a precisely measured portion of a larger sample used for testing or experimentation.

• Example 1 (Trusts and Estates): A will specifies that a deceased person's investment portfolio, valued at $1.5 million, is to be divided equally among their three children. Each child is entitled to an aliquot share of the portfolio.

  Explanation: In this scenario, each child receives an exact one-third portion ($500,000) of the total investment portfolio. This division is precise, leaving no remainder, making each child's share an aliquot part of the estate.

• Example 2 (Property Law and Land Division): A large 640-acre section of undeveloped land, as defined by the Public Land Survey System, is being sold off in smaller parcels. A buyer purchases the "Northeast Quarter" of that section.

  Explanation: The "Northeast Quarter" is an aliquot part of the original 640-acre section. It represents a legally defined, exact one-fourth portion (160 acres) of the larger whole, precisely surveyed and recognized as a standard subdivision of land.

• Example 3 (Scientific Research/Patent Law): A biotechnology company is developing a new vaccine. From a large 10-liter batch of a purified protein solution, a laboratory technician carefully extracts a 100-milliliter sample for a specific quality control test.

  Explanation: The 100-milliliter sample is an aliquot of the larger 10-liter protein solution. It is a precisely measured, representative fractional part taken for a specific test, ensuring that the results accurately reflect the properties of the entire batch for regulatory or patent purposes.