CESTUI QUE USE Meaning and
Definition
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Cestui que use is a legal term derived from old English law that refers to the person who enjoys the benefits or use of property held in trust by another person, known as the trustee. The term "cestui que use" is derived from the Norman French language and translates to "he or she who uses."
In medieval England, landowners often entrusted their property to trustees for the benefit of another individual, the cestui que use. The cestui que use would be entitled to use or enjoy the property while the trustee held legal title. This legal concept evolved from the medieval law of uses, which allowed landowners to indirectly transfer their rights to another by creating a trust.
Today, the term "cestui que use" is rarely used in legal practice, having been largely replaced by terms such as beneficiary or equitable owner. However, it may still be found in historical legal documents or cases that pertain to property rights and trusts from earlier times.
In essence, cestui que use refers to the person benefiting from a trust arrangement, while the trustee holds legal title to the property or assets. The cestui que use has the right to enjoy the property or receive income or other benefits arising from it, subject to the terms and conditions of the trust.
