Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: nominatio auctoris
Term: Determinable
Definition: Determinable means that something can come to an end when a certain thing happens. For example, if someone owns a house and says that they will only keep it as long as they live, then their ownership of the house is determinable because it will end when they die. Determinable can also mean that something can be figured out or found out, like a puzzle or a mystery.
Determinable
Determinable refers to an interest in a property that can end when a specific event or condition occurs. For example, a fee simple determinable is a type of estate that automatically ends when a specified event happens.
Determinable can also mean that a fact can be determined or ascertained.
Example 1: John gives his property to the city as long as it is used as a park. If the city ever stops using the property as a park, it will automatically go back to John or his heirs. This is an example of a fee simple determinable.
Example 2: The amount of rainfall in a particular area can be determinable by measuring the amount of water in a rain gauge.
In Example 1, the interest in the property is determinable because it will end when the city stops using it as a park. In Example 2, the fact of how much rainfall there is can be determined by measuring the water in a rain gauge.