Legal Definitions - demease

Demease refers to the act or event of death. This term is considered historical, meaning it was commonly used in legal and general contexts in the past but has largely been replaced by more modern terminology like "death" or "demise" in contemporary legal language.

Here are some examples illustrating the historical use of "demease":

• Imagine a will drafted in England during the 17th century. It might state: "Upon my demease, all my lands and chattels shall pass to my eldest son, John."

  This example shows "upon my demease" clearly indicating that the transfer of property is contingent upon the testator's (the person making the will) death. The use of "demease" instead of "death" reflects the historical legal language of the period.

• In chronicles describing the transition of power in a medieval kingdom, one might read: "Following the demease of King Richard, his nephew was immediately proclaimed sovereign."

  Here, "demease" signifies the death of King Richard, which then triggered the rules of royal succession. The historical context makes the use of this older term appropriate for describing a past event.

• Consider an old legal record from the 18th century detailing a dispute over a lease agreement. The document might refer to a clause stating: "The lease shall terminate automatically upon the demease of the tenant."

  In this context, the demease of the tenant means the tenant's death. This event would legally end the lease agreement, illustrating how "demease" functioned as a precise legal term for death in historical contracts.