Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: home
Primogenitureship refers to the state of being the firstborn child among siblings or the right of the firstborn son to inherit his ancestor's estate, usually excluding younger siblings. It is a law or custom that gives the eldest son or occasionally an eldest daughter the privilege to succeed to their ancestor's inheritance before younger children. This system of inheritance is not commonly used in the United States, where sons and daughters share the inheritance equally.
Definition: PrimoGenitureship refers to the state of being the firstborn child among siblings. It also refers to the common-law right of the firstborn son to inherit his ancestor's estate, usually to the exclusion of younger siblings.
Examples:
The examples illustrate how primogenitureship is related to the firstborn child and inheritance. In the first example, John holds the primogenitureship because he is the firstborn child. In the second example, the law of primogenitureship states that the eldest son inherits the family's estate, which means that younger siblings are excluded from inheriting.