Dead Man's Part

That portion of the personal estate of a person deceased which, by the custom of London, became the administrator's. If the decedent left wife and children, this was one-third of the residue after deducting the widow's chamber. If only a widow, or only children, it was one-half. 1 P. Wms. 341; Salk. 246. If neither widow nor children, it was the whole. 2 Show, 175. This provision was repealed by St. 1 Jac. II. c. 17, and the same made subject to the statute of distributions. 2 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 5. 8.

That portion of the personal estate of a person deceased which by the custom of London became the administrator's. If the decedent left wife and children, this was one-third of the residue after deducting the widow's chamber; if only a widow, or only children, it was one-half; 1 P. Wms. 341; Salk. 246; if neither widow nor chil- II, c. 17, and the same made subject to the statute of distributions. 2 Bla. Com. 518. See Customs of London; Legitime.

or death's part.

In English law. That portion of the effects of a deceased person which, by the custom of London and York, is allowed to the administrator.

In English law. That portion of the effects of a deceased person which, by the custom of London and York, is allowed to the administrator; being, where the deceased leaves a widow and children, one-third; where he leaves only a widow or only children, one-half; and, where he leaves neither, the whole. This portion the administrator was wont to apply to his own use, till the statute 1 Jac. II. c. 17, declared that the same should be subject to the statute of distributions. 2 Bl. Comm. 518; 2 Steph. Comm. 254; 4 Reeve, Eng. Law, 83. A similar portion in Scotch law is called "dead's part," (q. v.)

Death's part. That part fects of a decedent which by the custom went to the administrator. In Scotch law, such of his personalty as remained beyond widow and children, which the decedent will. Dead pledge: a mortgage.

or DEATH'S