Legal Definitions - jacens

Definition: Jacens (jay-senz) is a Latin term that means lying, fallen, or in abeyance. It is often used in legal contexts to refer to property or an estate that is waiting for an heir to claim it.

Example: Hereditas jacens is a type of inheritance that has not yet been accepted by an heir. This means that the property is in limbo, waiting for someone to claim it. For example, if a person dies without a will and has no living relatives, their estate may become hereditas jacens until someone steps forward to claim it.

This term can also refer to an estate that has no legal owner and is open to the first occupant. In this case, the first person to claim the property becomes the owner. For example, if a person dies without any known heirs or relatives, their estate may become hereditas jacens and be open to anyone who wants to claim it.

Overall, jacens is a term that describes property or an estate that is in a state of uncertainty, waiting for someone to claim it or take ownership.