Savings Clause
Definition
Language in a statute, contract, or other legal document that creates an exception to a rule stated within the document, or that provides for the enforceability of portions of the document if other portions are declared to be invalid. In the trusts and property law context, a savings clause, also referred to as a termination/savings clause or a perpetuities savings clause, provides for a trust to terminate and for all remaining trust assets to be distributed to then-existing trust beneficiaries within the relevant period necessary to avoid the rule against perpetuities invalidating the trust.