This page is continued from Property >>>> Interest >>>> Estate >>>> Estate – legal or equitable?:

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equitable estate:
(17c)

1. An estate recognized in equity, such as a trust beneficiary’s interest. [1]

1. An equity; an estate or interest in property recognized only in equity, especially a trust. McIlvaine v Smith, 42 Mo 45.
    See equitable title. [2]

1. An interest in property recognized only in equity.  EXAMPLE: the interest of a beneficiary of a trust. [3]

     Excerpt fromG.C. Cheshire, Modern Law of Real Property 54 (3d ed. 1933):

     “[A] legal estate was a right in rem, an equitable estate a right in personam, that is to say, the former conferred a right enforceable against the whole world, the latter one which could be enforced only against a limited number of persons.” [4]

Related Terms:

equitable title – indicates a beneficial interest in property, recognized as ownership in equity, but not legal title, that gives the holder the right to have the legal title transferred to him.

Types of Equitable Estates:

equitable life estate – an equitable estate (interest) in real or personal property that lasts for the life of the holder of the estate. (e.g. a life estate held by a trust beneficiary)