Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: TAILZIE
Definition: Tailzie is a legal term used in Scotland that means the same thing as "entail" or "tail." It refers to a legal arrangement where property or land is passed down through a family line, usually to the oldest son or a specific heir.
Think of it like a game of "hot potato" where the property is passed down from one generation to the next, but only to certain people in the family. It's a way to make sure that the property stays in the family and doesn't get sold or given away to someone outside of the family.
Definition: Tailzie (tay-lee) is a term used in Scots law to refer to the legal concept of entail or tail. It refers to the practice of restricting the inheritance of property to a specific line of descendants, usually through a will or trust.
Example: A wealthy landowner in Scotland may create a tailzie in his will, stipulating that his estate can only be inherited by his eldest son and his male descendants. This means that the property cannot be sold or divided among other family members, and must be passed down through the designated line of heirs.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a tailzie can be used to restrict the inheritance of property to a specific line of descendants. By creating a tailzie in his will, the landowner ensures that his estate remains within his family and is not dispersed among other relatives or sold to outsiders. This legal concept was commonly used in Scotland in the past to preserve family estates and prevent them from being broken up or sold off.