life

That state of animals, humans, and plants or of an organized being, in which its natural functions and motions are performed, or in which its organs are capable of performing their functions. The interval between birth and death. The sum of the forces by which death is resisted.

"Life" protected by the Federal Constitution includes all personal rights and their enjoyment of the faculties, acquiring useful knowledge, the right to marry, establish a home, and bring up children, freedom of worship, conscience, contract, occupation, speech, assembly and press.

See also natural life

- useful life

- viability

- viable child

- wrongful life

- life annuity

@ life beneficiary

One who receives payments or other rights from a trust for his or her lifetime

@ life care contract

An agreement in which one party is assured of care and maintenance for his natural life in consideration of a transfer of property to the other party. Such contracts exist, for example, between elderly persons and nursing homes

@ life estate

An estate whose duration is limited to the life of the party holding it, or some other person.

See also life interest.

A legal arrangement whereby the beneficiary (i.e., the life tenant) is entitled to the income from the property for his or her life. Upon the death of the life tenant, the property will go to the holder of the remainder interest or to the grantor by reversion

@ life expectancy

The period of time in which a person of a given age and sex is expected to live according to statistical (i.e. actuarial) tables.

See also actuarial table

- life tables

@ life in being

A phrase used in the common-law and statutory rules against perpetuities, meaning the remaining duration of the life of a person who is in existence at the time when the deed or will takes effect. McArthur v. Scott, 113 U.S. 340, 5 S.Ct. 652, 28 L.Ed. 1015

@

- life insurance

@ life insurance proceeds

Generally, life insurance proceeds paid to a beneficiary upon the death of the insured are exempt from Federal income An exception is provided where a life insurance contract has been transferred for valuable consideration to another individual who assumes ownership rights. In such case the proceeds are income to the assignee to the extent that the proceeds exceed the amount paid for the policy plus any subsequent premiums paid. Insurance proceeds may be subject to the Federal estate tax if the decedent retained any incidents of ownership in the policy prior to death or if the proceeds are payable to his estate. I.R.C. No.No. 101 and 2042

@ life insurance reserves

Fund which, together with future premiums and interest, will be sufficient to pay future claims. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co. v. U. S., C.A.N.C., 408 F.2d 842, 845

@ life insurance trust

Type of trust, the res of which consists in whole or in part of life insurance policies owned by the trustees and payable to the trust on the death of the insured. A device commonly used in estate planning

@ life interest

A claim or interest in real or personal property, not amounting to ownership, and limited by a term of life, either that of the person in whom the right is vested or that of another.

See also life estate

@ life-land

@ life-hold

@ life-land, or life-hold

life-land, or life-hold

Land held on a lease for lives

@ life of a writ

The period during which a writ (execution, etc.) remains effective and can lawfully be served or levied, terminating with the day on which, by law or by its own terms, it is to be returned into court

@ life or limb

The phrase "life or limb" within constitutional provision that no person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb is not construed strictly but applies to any criminal penalty. Fifth Amend., U.S.Const. Clawans v. Rives, 70 U.S.App.D.C. 107, 104 F.2d 240, 242

@ life peerage

Letters patent, conferring the dignity of baron for life only, do not enable the grantee to sit and vote in the house of lords, not even with the usual writ of summons to the house.

@ life policy

See insurance (life insurance)

@

- life sentence (See also sentence)

@ life sustaining procedures

Such procedures which may be suspended on a court order or pursuant to a living will in case of, for example, a comatose and terminally ill individual, are medical procedures which utilize mechanical or other artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a vital function, which serve only or primarily to prolong the moment of death, and where, in the judgment of the attending and consulting physicians, as reflected in the patient's medical records, death is imminent if such procedures are not utilized. John F. Kennedy Memorial Hosp., Inc. v. Bludworth, Fla.App. 4 Dist, 432 So.2d 611, 619.

See also right to die laws

- will (living will)

@ life tables

Statistical (i.e. actuarial) tables exhibiting the probable proration of persons who will live to reach different ages. Such tables are used for many purposes, such as the computation of the present value of annuities, dower rights, etc.; and for the computation of damages resulting from injuries which destroy the earning capacity of a person, or those resulting from the death of a person to those who are dependent upon him.

See also actuarial tables

@ life tenancy

An estate in real property in which the tenant has a freehold interest for his life or for the life of another (pur autre vie)

@ life tenant

One who holds an estate in lands for the period of his own life or that of another certain person

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