Legal Definitions - Shelley's case

Shelley's case refers to a legal rule that determines how property is passed down to heirs in certain situations. The rule states that if a person leaves property to another person "for life" and then to that person's heirs, the property will actually go directly to the heirs instead of the person who was supposed to have it for life.

For example, if a grandfather leaves his house "to his grandson for life, and then to his heirs," the grandson will not actually have the house for his lifetime. Instead, the grandson's children (the heirs) will inherit the house immediately upon the grandfather's death.

This rule can have important implications for estate planning and inheritance, as it can affect who ultimately receives property and when they receive it.