Legal Definitions - de biens le mort

De biens le mort is a historical legal phrase originating from Law French. It literally translates to "of the goods of the deceased" and refers specifically to the property, assets, or possessions that belonged to an individual at the time of their death.

• Scenario 1: The Merchant's Ledger

  Imagine a successful spice merchant in 15th-century London who suddenly succumbs to illness. He leaves behind not only his home but also a warehouse full of valuable spices, a ledger detailing outstanding debts owed to him, and several ships docked in the Thames. When his family or the executor of his estate began the process of inventorying and managing these assets, all of these items—the spices, the debts, and the ships—would collectively be referred to as the de biens le mort, representing the entirety of the deceased merchant's possessions.

• Scenario 2: The Knight's Armory

  Consider a medieval knight who falls in battle. His personal effects include his suit of armor, his sword, his warhorse, and a small chest containing coins and a family signet ring. Upon his death, these specific items, which were his personal property and tools of his trade, would be identified as the de biens le mort. They are the "goods of the deceased" knight that would then be passed on according to custom or will.

• Scenario 3: The Widow's Dowry Items

  A peasant woman in a feudal village dies, leaving behind her simple cottage, a few domestic animals like a pig and some chickens, and a small collection of household items, including a spinning wheel and a loom. Though modest, these possessions constituted her entire estate. When her surviving family or the village elder assessed what was left, these items would be considered the de biens le mort – the specific goods that belonged to the deceased woman at the time of her passing.