What term describes the part of an estate left after all other provisions of a will are satisfied?

The term that describes the part of an estate left after all other provisions of a will are satisfied is referred to as the remainder interest. This means that once any specific gifts, debts, or expenses outlined in the will have been addressed, what remains of the estate is considered the remainder.

In estate planning terminology, a remainder interest is distinct from other interests because it is what is due to the beneficiaries after all prior interests, like life estates or specific bequests, have been settled. It represents a future interest that will become possessory when a preceding interest ends. In contrast, terms like beneficiary interest and trust interest pertain to the entitlements of individuals or entities during the administration of an estate, and equity interest generally relates to ownership interest in property, not the distribution of an estate. This understanding is essential for interpreting wills and trusts, as well as in estate planning and inheritance law.