Legal Definitions - demise

Definition: Demise refers to the transfer of property through a lease or will. It can also refer to the end of something, such as the death of a person or the dissolution of a corporation.

When used as a noun, "demise" can mean:

• A lease for a specific period of time
• A conveyance of an estate, either in fee or for life or for years
• The transfer of property, most commonly for a specific period of time

As a verb, "demise" means to lease property for a specific period of time.

Examples:

• John's father left him the family farm in his will. The demise of the property was transferred to John through the will.
• The company's demise was caused by poor management and financial mismanagement.
• The landlord and tenant signed a lease agreement for the demise of the property for a period of five years.

The first example illustrates the transfer of property through a will, which is a common way for property to be transferred after someone's death. The second example shows how "demise" can be used to describe the end of a corporation. The third example demonstrates the use of "demise" as a noun to describe a lease agreement for a specific period of time.