satisfaction

1. The fulfilment of a claim. See also *accord and satisfaction.
2. A doctrine of equity under which an obligation is discharged by payment, performance, or some similar act. The doctrine applies when the acts of a settlor are unclear. If the settlor discharges his obligation by an act different from that required, the obligation is said to be satisfied provided that the act he does is a sufficient substitute for the act he is charged to do. Thus if he owes a debt and leaves a legacy of the same or a greater amount to the creditor, the creditor is satisfied. Closely analogous to satisfaction are cases in which payment of a legacy is satisfied by payment of a *portion and one legacy is satisfied by payment of another (see *ademption); in these cases, however, there is no prior obligation owed by the settlor.