Legal Definitions - abortive child

An abortive child is a term used in civil law to refer to a stillborn child or a child born so prematurely that it cannot and does not survive 24 hours.

For example, if a woman gives birth to a baby who is born dead or dies shortly after birth, that child would be considered an abortive child.

This term is important in legal matters such as inheritance and property rights, as an abortive child may not be entitled to the same rights as a child who survives for a longer period of time.