Disinheritance

/ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/ noun

Definition

The act of removing someone from a will, or the state of being removed from an inheritance.

Etymology

From disinherit + -ance (a condition or state). This noun form emerged in English legal language to describe the formal process and its consequences.

Kelly Says

Disinheritance appears in nearly every great novel and real-life scandal because it's the ultimate plot twist—a parent's final rejection delivered after death. The word became especially important during the Victorian era when elaborate wills were weapons in family warfare.

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