Estate (Caphiria): Difference between revisions

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Although Estates are not obligated to formally convene, for matters of dispute resolution or internal conflict any member may call a ''Distiona Aversus'' (lit. family discussion of conflict) at which point an Estate vote may occur. Given the sheer number of members in an Estate however, relatively few households appear in person for the vote, so ballots are typically sent by mail before the beginning of the ''Distiona Aversus.'' In most cases though, Estates limit voting to the oldest families or members.  
Although Estates are not obligated to formally convene, for matters of dispute resolution or internal conflict any member may call a ''Distiona Aversus'' (lit. family discussion of conflict) at which point an Estate vote may occur. Given the sheer number of members in an Estate however, relatively few households appear in person for the vote, so ballots are typically sent by mail before the beginning of the ''Distiona Aversus.'' In most cases though, Estates limit voting to the oldest families or members.  
=== Membership ===
Membership in an Estate is formed by matrimony and inheritance, but unlike the Urcean system, an individual can hold dual membership if both Estates are of the same type. Despite this, an individual cannot serve as the head of two Estates. Individuals typically take their father's Estate membership except in very rare circumstances where the mother's Estate is instead passed on. Upon registration, members of an Estate must demonstrate lineage to at least a single (living or deceased) member.
Individuals who are not members of an Estate, such as immigrants, typically take on their spouse's Estate. It is possible to abjure one's membership in an Estate, but if one abjures his or her membership of an Estate, they cannot join another. If a man abjures his Estate, it is binding on his descendants unless they marry into another Estate.
=== Estate Fund ===
Because Estates exist as a separate legal entity, it is possible to transfer assets and equity to and from an Estate. This is known as ''Collatio'' ''Praedium'' (estate asset bestowal) and is extremely similar to how a discretionary trust functions. The head of the Estate is legally the sole trustee of the ''Estate Fund'' with members of the Estate being equal beneficiaries. Estate Funds have many advantages besides tax savings, such as:
*to protect improvident members against creditors – as members have no claim to any specific part of the estate fund, none of the trust fund is vulnerable to attachment by the trustee in bankruptcy of any beneficiary
*to exercise control over young or improvident members
*to create flexibility to react to changes in circumstances
*to protect family assets from forming part of any [[divorce]] settlement.


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