What is an estate?
The term ‘estate’ refers to the character and duration of a person’s ownership of land, and all possessions and other assets they have a controlling interest in or own out-right, minus any liabilities. It is of particular significance if the individual is made bankrupt or when they die.
Estate planning is the process of managing an estate and deciding, through a will and testament, how it will be divided up and distributed to beneficiaries (those who receive the assets through inheritance, gift, and so on) upon their death. Solicitors can be hired to assist with the process of estate planning.
The term 'estate' can also be used to refer to an ‘estate in land’, i.e. a farm, homestead, historic home, etc. of an individual.
NB Government Functional Standard GovS 004: Property, Version: 2.0, published by HM Government on 1 September 2021, defines estate as: ‘The sum total of property assets held by an organisation.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Licensing construction; looking back to look forward
Voluntary to required contractors (licensing) schemes.
A contractor discusses the Building Safety Act
A brief to the point look at changes that have occurred.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year award
Shortlist set to go head-to-head for prestigious industry title.
HSE simplified advice for installers of stone worktops
After company fined for repeatedly failing to protect workers.
Co-located with 10th year of UK Construction Week.
How orchards can influence planning and development.
Time for knapping, no time for napping
Decorative split stone square patterns in facades.
A practical guide to the use of flint in design and architecture.
Designing for neurodiversity: driving change for the better
Accessible inclusive design translated into reality.
RIBA detailed response to Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report
Briefing notes following its initial 4 September response.
Approved Document B: Fire Safety from March
Current and future changes with historical documentation.
A New Year, a new look for BSRIA
As phase 1 of the BSRIA Living Laboratory is completed.
A must-attend event for the architecture industry.
Caroline Gumble to step down as CIOB CEO in 2025
After transformative tenure take on a leadership role within the engineering sector.
RIDDOR and the provisional statistics for 2023 / 2024
Work related deaths; over 50 percent from construction and 50 percent recorded as fall from height.