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EFFECTS Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

Personal estate or property. This word has been held to be more comprehensivethan the word “goods,” as including fixtures, which “goods” will not include.Bank v. Byram, 131 111. 92, 22 N. E. 812.In wills. The word “effects” Is equivalent to “property,” or “worldly substance,” and,if used simpliciter, as in a gift of “all my effects,” will carry the whole personal estate.Ves. Jr. 507; Ward, Log. 209. The addition of the words “real and personal” will extendit so as to embrace the whole of the testator’s real and personal estate. Ho- gan v.Jackson, Cowp. 304; The Aljiena (D. C.) 7 Fed. 301.This Is a word often found In wills, and, being equivalent to “property,” or “worldlysubstance,” its force depends greatly upon the association of the adjectives “real” and”personal.” “Real and personal effects”would embrace the whole estate; but the word “effects” alone must be confined to personal estate simply, unless an intention appears to the contrary. Scliouler, Wills,

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