Legal Definitions - inure

Definition: Inure is a legal term that can have both positive and negative meanings. It refers to the effect or result of a particular action, and who benefits or suffers from that action. For example, if a will specifies that all personal property is to inure to the benefit of a specific person, that person is entitled to receive all of the testator's personal property upon their death.

In property law, inure means to vest, which means granting a fixed, immediate right of current or future enjoyment. This means that an individual has an absolute right to a current or future interest in something of value. When the right has fully vested, the individual is then legally entitled to what was promised.

Examples:

• A release to the tenant for life which is inuring to the tenant in reversion. This means that the individual has essentially the same effect as a tenant for life.
• A will specifies that all personal property is to inure to the benefit of a specific individual, that mentioned person is granted the right to be given all the personal property that was owned by the testator upon the testator’s death.
• A vested remainder is a future interest held by an individual, which, after the occurrence of a certain event, will then pass on to the individual. For example, when property is given to an individual for life and, and will go to a second individual following the individual’s death, this second individual has a vested remainder in the property.
• A vested legacy is an inheritance specifying that there is a fixed, irrevocable right to its payment. For instance, a vested legacy in a will may state that the inheritance cannot be paid until the recipient attains the age of twenty-one. That is a vested legacy since it is unconditional and absolute and vests an immediate interest in the individual.

These examples illustrate how inure can refer to the granting of a right or interest to an individual, either immediately or in the future. In some cases, this can be a benefit, such as when a will specifies that all personal property is to inure to the benefit of a specific individual. In other cases, it can be a detriment, such as when a release to the tenant for life inures to the tenant in reversion, which means that the individual has essentially the same effect as a tenant for life.