Definition of Contingent

Possible, but not assured; doubtful or uncertain, conditioned upon the ocourrence of some future event which is itself uncertain or questionable. Vernier v. Roach, 96 Cal. 467, 31 Pac. 554. This term, when applied to a use, remainder, devise, bequest, or other legal right or interest, implies that no present interest ex-isis, and that whether such interest or right ever will exist depends upon a future uncertain event Jemison v. Blowers, 5 Barb. (N. Y.) 692.
—Contingent claim. One which has not accrued and which is dependent on the happening of some future event Hospes v. Car Co., 48 Minn. 174, 50 N. W. 1117, 15 In R. A. 470, 31 Am. St. Rep. 637 ; Austin v. Saveland's Estate, 77 Wis. 108, 45 N. W. 955; Downer v. Topliff, 19 Vt. 399 ; Stichter v. Cox, 52 Neb. 532, 72 N. W. 848; Clark v. Winchell, 53 Vt. 408.
—Contingent estate. An estate which depends for its effect upon an event which may or may not happen; as an estate limited to a person not in esse, or not yet bom. 2 Crabb, Real Prop. p. 4, § 946; Haywood v. Shreve, 44 N. J. Law, 94; Wadsworth v. Murray, 29 App. Div. 191, 51 N. Y. Supp. 1038; Thornton v. Zea, 22 Tex. Civ. App. 509, 55 S. W. 798; Hopkins v. Hopkins, 1 Hun, 354.
—Contingent interest in personal property. . It may be defined as a future interest not transmissible to the representatives of the party entitled thereto, in case he dies bsfore it vests in possession. Thus, if a testator leaves the income of a fund to hls wife for life, and the capital of the fund to be distributed among such of his children as shall be living at her death, the interest of each child during the widow's life-time is contingent) and in case of his death is not transmissible to his representatives. Mozley & Whitley.
—Contingent liability. One which is not now fixed and absolute, but which will become so in case of the occurrence of some future and nncertain event Downer v. Co.rtis, 25 Vt. 650; Bank v. Hingham Mfg. Co.., 127 Mass. 563; Haywood v. Shreve, 44 N. J. Law, 94; Steele v. Graves, 68 Ala. 2l. As to contingent "Damages," "Legacy," "Limitation," "Remainder," "Trust," and "Use," see those titles.