In trusts and estates law, the slayer rule says that a murderer cannot retain a property interest in their victim’s estate. The slayer rule allows courts to presume the murderer disclaims their property interest, and therefore behave as though the murderer predeceased the victim. This has the effect of disqualifying the murderer from receiving property from the estate of the victim.
The slayer rule applies only if the killing was felonious and intentional. The murderer is not required to be convicted of the crime, but if they are convicted of murder, the conviction establishes a conclusive presumption that the murderer did feloniously and intentionally kill the victim.
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