Deceased

/dɪˈsiːst/

Definitions

  1. (adj.) Having died; no longer living.
    The deceased party's estate was distributed according to the will.
  2. (n.) A person who has died, especially one involved in legal proceedings or estate matters.
    The executor filed documents on behalf of the deceased.

Commentary

In legal drafting, "deceased" is typically used to refer either to a dead person or an entity/substance that no longer exists; care should be taken to distinguish between the adjective and noun forms depending on context.

This glossary is for general informational and educational purposes only. Definitions are jurisdiction-agnostic but reflect terminology and concepts primarily drawn from English and American legal traditions. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Users should consult qualified counsel for advice on specific matters or jurisdictions.

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