That which may be expected ; that which is contin- gent. In the doctrine of life annuities, that share or number of the years of human life which a person of a given ago mav expect to live, upon an equal- ity of chances. 2. — In general, the heir apparent will bo relie…
What is Expectation?
may be expected ; that which is contin-
gent. In the doctrine of life annuities,
that share or number of the years of
human life which a person of a given
ago mav expect to live, upon an equal-
ity of chances.
2. — In general, the heir apparent
will bo relieved from a contract made
in relation to his expectation. Sec
iW Obit.
EXPENSE LITIS, expenses of the
suit, the costs which are generally al-
lowed to the successful pnrty.
EXPERTS, from the Latin cxjfcri-
ens, which signifies instructed by expe-
rience, arc |>ersons who are selected by
the courts or the parties in a cause on
account of their knowledge or skill to
examine, estimate and ascertain things,
and make a report of their opinions.
Merl. Rupert, mot Expert ; 2 Lois dcs
Batimens, 253 ; 2 N. S. 1 ; 5 N. S.
557; 5 L. R. 350; 11 L. R. 314 ; 11
S. & R. 336 ; Ray, Med. Jur.* Prel.
Views, § 29.
EXPILATION, civil law. The
crime of abstracting the goods of a suc-
cession.
2. — This is said not to be a theft,
because the property no longer belongs
to the deceased, nor to the heir before
he has taken possession. In the com-
mon law, the grant of letters testamen-
tary or letters of administration relate
back to the time of the death of the
testator or intestate, so that the proper-
ty of the estate is vested in the execu-
tor or administrator from that period.
Why Expectation matters
Expectation appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How Expectation works in practice
In practice, Expectation is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Bouvier's Law Dictionary (1856) , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.