Skip person, or skipping a person in a written document, is a legal term used to describe when a person or entity is intentionally excluded when drawing up a document. This term is used commonly in legal documents such as wills, trusts, transfers of property, and more in order to limit the parties to which a document is applicable.
For example, say a mother creates a will and decides to skip her daughter, her only child, in the document. This means the daughter won’t be acknowledged or have a right to the estate’s assets upon the mother’s passing. This is an example of skipping a person in a document.
When a skip person is listed in a document, the document typically includes language such as “The document is made in reference to everyone except Mary Smith” or “The document is intended for everyone but John Doe.” This language is then repeated throughout the text to ensure the skip person’s exclusion.
Skip person is a tool used in estate and property planning to clearly outline the rights and limitations of parties in a document. By understanding what a skip person is and taking the time to list them in a document, parties can ensure that the document remains legally binding and is upheld in a court of law.