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fee tail :: legal definition


Fee tail - n. an old feudal expression for a title to real property which can only be passed to one's heirs "of his body" or certain heirs who are blood relatives. If the blood line ran out (no children) then the title would revert to the descendants of the lord who originally gave the land to the title-holding family. Thus, it could not be transferred to anyone outside the family. The intention was to keep lands within a family line and not subdivided. In 16th century England, trusts were established to get around this "restraint on alienation" so the land could be held in trust for another person to use. Fee tail is of historic and academic interest only.

See also: fee fee simple and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

adverse possession :: n. a means to acquire title to land through obviou ... o: possession prescriptive easement
cloud on title (cloud) :: n. an actual or apparent outstanding claim on the ... ion reconveyance title title report
constructive trust :: n. when a person has title to property and/or take ... tence. See also: constructive trust
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
deed :: 1) n. the written document which transfers title ( ... veyance deed of trust warranty deed
deed of trust :: n. a document which pledges real property to secur ... : foreclosure mortgage reconveyance
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
fee :: n. 1) absolute title in land, from old French, fie ... See also: attorney's fee fee simple
fee simple :: n. absolute title to land, free of any other claim ... e:" or similar words. See also: fee
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
public trust doctrine :: n. the principle that the government holds title t ... interest has been dubious at best.
reconveyance :: n. in those states which use deeds of trust as a m ... conveyance. See also: deed of trust
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
resulting trust :: n. a trust implied by law (as determined by a cour ... See also: constructive trust trust
seisin :: (sees-in) n. an old feudal term for having both po ... perty). See also: fee simple seized
subject to :: adj. referring to the acquisition of title to real ... : assumption deed of trust mortgage
trustee :: n. a person or entity who holds the assets (corpus ... es. See also: settlor trust trustor

Popular Law Searches

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federal courts :: n. the court system which handles civil and crimin ... rans' appeals. See also: bankruptcy
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fee :: n. 1) absolute title in land, from old French, fie ... See also: attorney's fee fee simple