term:

Mortmain Statute

mortmain statute n

: a statute that prohibits corporate bodies (as charities) from holding real property in perpetuity or that otherwise limits or regulates testamentary dispositions to usually charitable corporations called also statute of mortmain

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.