MORT CIVILE

In French law. Civil death, as upon conviction for felony. It was nominally abolished by a law of the 31st of May, 1854, but something very similar to it in effect at least still remains. Thus, the property of the condemned, possessed by him at the date of his conviction, goes and belongs to his successors, (heritiers,) as In case of an intestacy; and his future acquired property goes to the state by right of its prerogative, (par droit de de’she’rence,) but the state may, as a matter of grace, make it over In whole or in part to the widow and children. Brown.