Also known as:prolem · prolis · offspring · issue · progeny
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Offspring, especially the legitimate children of a marriage.
Sources & Authorities· 37 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Unreleased Lien Clouds Conveyance
Penelope Price contracted to sell land to Pedro Pacheco. The deed reserved an interest for her proles but left an unreleased lien from prior litigation. At closing Pedro refused performance because the lien rendered title unmarketable under the contract standard.
Warrant Description Includes Family
Police obtained a warrant to search Pamela Phillips's home for documents. The affidavit listed her proles as possible occupants. Officers executed the warrant and seized items belonging to the children, satisfying the particularity requirement.
Lay Opinion About Children
Priya Prasad testified about her neighbor's household. She stated that the neighbor's proles appeared neglected based on daily observations. The court admitted the opinion because it helped the jury understand the witness's testimony without requiring expert knowledge.
During sentencing the judge noted that the defendant had proles who depended on him. The comment was relevant to the appropriate sentence and did not manifest bias under the conduct rules.
Nonfrivolous Claim Involving Heirs
Portia Price filed suit claiming her proles held remainder interests under an old deed. Counsel had researched the chain of title and concluded the claim rested on a good-faith argument for extending existing precedent.
Conveyance Creates Estate for Issue
Phoebe Park and her husband conveyed land to themselves for life with remainder to their proles. The deed language satisfied the requirements for creating a fee tail or substituted estate under the applicable property rule.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
1
What does the term proles specifically denote in property instruments?+
Proles refers to the legitimate offspring or issue of a marriage. In conveyances it identifies the class of children who take remainder interests after a life estate to the parents.
Supporting sources
5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803)Property
…February 24, 1803 - Judges: Chief Justice Marshall Syllabus The Supreme Court of the United States has not power to issue a mandamus to a Secretary of State of the United States, it being an exercise of original jurisdiction not warranted by the Constitution. Congress have not power to give original…