Dead man's part, the remainder of an intestate's movables, besides that which of right belonged to his wife and children. This was formerly made use of in masses for the soul of the deceased; subsequently, the administrators applied it to their own use and benefit, until the 1 Jac. 2, c. 17, subjected it to distribution among the next of kin. In Scotland the 'dead's part' of a man's personalty is that part of which he is entitled to dispose by will. See REASONABLE PARTS.
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