Rule Against Perpetuities Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Rule Against Perpetuities.

Rule Against Perpetuities (n.) is a legal principle that prevents property from being controlled indefinitely or for an excessively long time by the clauses of a deed or a will. This rule ensures that property is not tied up forever, by limiting control over how long future interests in the property can last. For instance, a clause in a deed that restricts the sale of property to only siblings would be an example of an attempt to impermissibly control ownership of the property beyond a reasonable time frame.