Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 700.11

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Inter vivos: Transfer of property from one living person to another living person.
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
   (1)    If a statute, inter vivos governing instrument, as defined in s. 700.27 (1) (c), or governing instrument, as defined in s. 854.01 (2), specifies that property is to be distributed to, or a future interest is to be created in, a designated individual’s “heirs,” “heirs at law,” “next of kin,” “relatives,” “family,” or a term that has a similar meaning, or if a class gift in favor of “descendants,” “issue,” or “heirs of the body” does not specify the manner in which the property is to be distributed among the class members, the property is distributed according to s. 854.22.
   (2)   The common law doctrine of worthier title is abolished under s. 854.22 (3). Situations in which the doctrine may have applied are governed by s. 854.22 (1).