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Alimentary meaning

What does Alimentary mean?
In legal practice, alimentary describes money or a property interest provided solely for a person’s maintenance and support, typically drafted so the beneficiary cannot assign it and creditors cannot attach it. In Scots law, the concept is well established in case law and trust practice (rather than defined in a single statute), most commonly seen in an alimentary liferent: a life interest in income intended for subsistence and generally protected from diligence and bankruptcy claims. Such provisions were historically common in ante‑nuptial (marriage) contracts, particularly where a wife settled property to support her husband, and still appear in older deeds and protective trust drafting. In England & Wales and Northern Ireland, the label alimentary is rarely used. Equivalent creditor‑protection is achieved through protective trusts or life interests determinable on alienation or bankruptcy; family law uses maintenance or periodical payments instead. In Ireland, usage is also uncommon outside older instruments; maintenance is the usual term. Practical significance: classification as alimentary can affect enforcement by creditors, insolvency outcomes and drafting of family settlements and trusts. Protection depends on wording and public‑policy limits. See also: alimentary liferent.
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View the related Practice Notes about Alimentary

PRACTICE NOTES
Scottish Private Client Practice Glossary: Succession, Trusts, Guardianship and Property Terms with England and Wales Equivalents

A glossary of frequently used terms and phrases in Scottish Private Client law, with the closest England and Wales equivalents (where applicable) and links to helpful websites Ab intestato Meaning From someone who dies without a will; describes property taken under the laws of intestate succession. Nearest English equivalent None Action of specific implement Meaning A court action seeking an order compelling a party to carry out a particular act. In Scotland there is no division between equitable and legal remedies, unlike England and Wales. Nearest English equivalent Specific performance (an equitable remedy for breach of contract that can be ordered alongside, or in place of, damages) Advance notice Meaning An entry in the relevant property register that protects the grantee of a deed intended for registration in the Land Register of Scotland. The protected period of 35 days begins on the day after registration....

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PRACTICE NOTES
Variation of Scottish trusts: common law, court-sanctioned arrangements and statutory powers (1921, 1961, 2024), including alimentary liferents, beneficiary approvals, procedure, divorce, and public/charitable cy-près and OSCR reorganisations

FORTHCOMING CHANGE : The Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 obtained Royal Assent on 30 January 2024, representing the first comprehensive re-examination of Scottish trust law in more than a century, since the cornerstone Trusts (Scotland) Act 1921 was enacted. As regards trusts, a substantial proportion of its provisions will only operate once Scottish Ministers make further secondary legislation to commence them. By contrast, most succession provisions took effect on 30 April 2024, with a handful of minor trust-related points commencing on 26 June 2024. See News Analysis: Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill passed. Practice Notes dealing with Scottish trusts and succession will be updated further to reflect, and align with, this new legislation. At common law, once a trust has taken effect, the scope to vary its terms or purposes is very narrowly confined. Where an inter vivos trust is revocable, the truster may adjust its terms at any time, provided they are sui juris. However, the majority of inter vivos trusts are irrevocable once the trust has...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Scottish liferent (interest in possession) trusts: creation and administration, income v capital, proper liferent distinction, IHT, alimentary/protective liferents, apportionment, and Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 reforms

FORTHCOMING CHANGE : The Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 obtained Royal Assent on 30 January 2024, signalling the first significant reassessment of Scottish trusts law in more than a century since the foundational Trusts (Scotland) Act 1921. The trusts provisions will only commence once Scottish Ministers introduce the requisite secondary legislation, whereas certain succession provisions took effect on 30 April 2024. The key updates designed to modernise the regime are outlined in News Analysis: Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill passed. Practice Notes covering aspects of Scottish trusts and succession law will be further revised to reflect this new legislation... Liferent trusts A liferent trust is a vehicle that, once established, grants a beneficiary or beneficiaries the right to use the trust property and to receive its income. The individual benefiting from the use or fruits of the trust property is termed the liferenter. Liferent trusts are also sometimes known as interest in possession (IIP) trusts or life interest trusts (the preferred English terminology)—see Practice Note: Creation...

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