The Law Dictionary

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TAIL, ESTATE IN

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An estate of inheritance, which, instead of descending to heirs generally, goes to the heirs of the donee's body, which means his lawful issue, his children, and through them to his grandchildren in a direct line, so long as his posterity endures in a regular order and course of descent, and upon the death of the first owner without issue, the estate determines. 1 Washb. Real … [Read more...] about TAIL, ESTATE IN

TAKE THE FIFTH

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Common phrase uttered to refer to a person's right to refuse to testify on the grounds that doing so might incriminate the person in a crime. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution provides that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. … [Read more...] about TAKE THE FIFTH

TAILLE

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Fr. In old French law. A tax or assessment levied by the king, or by any great lord, upon his subjects, usually taking the form of an imposition upon the owners of real estate. Brande. In old English law. The fee which la opposed to fee simple, because it is so minced or pared that it is not in the owner's free power to dispose of it, but it is, by the flrst giver, cut or … [Read more...] about TAILLE

TAIL

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An estate tail is an estate of inheritance, to a man or a woman and his or her heirs of his or her body, or heirs of his body of a particular description, or to several persons and the heirs of their bodies, or the heirs generally or specially of the body or bodies of one person, or several bodies. Prest. on Estates, 355; Cruise, tit. 2, c. 1, s. 12. 2. Estates tail, as … [Read more...] about TAIL