Precatory - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition precatory

precatory

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: expressing a wish or desire but not creating a legal obligation or affirmative duty [a remark] [the words] NOTE: When interpreting wills, courts will look to whether a direction is precatory or mandatory in carrying out the testator's intent. Thus, courts generally will not construe language to create a trust if the language is only precatory and there is no evidence that the language was intended to create a trust. Words such as with the hope that or it is my wish that are often considered precatory.