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Simple English definitions for legal terms
De Donis Conditionalibus
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A quick definition of De Donis Conditionalibus:
De Donis Conditionalibus: An old law in England that allowed people to create a special type of ownership called a "fee tail." This meant that the land could only be passed down to certain family members, like children or grandchildren, and couldn't be sold to anyone else. This law was created in 1285 and lasted for a long time, but eventually people found ways to get around it and sell the land anyway.
A more thorough explanation:
De Donis Conditionalibus is an English statute that was enacted in 1285. It allowed for the creation of a fee tail, which is an estate that can only be passed down to the heirs of the original owner.
For example, if John owns a piece of land and creates a fee tail by saying "I give this land to my son, and then to his heirs," the land can only be passed down to John's son and his descendants. It cannot be sold or given away to anyone else.
This statute was created to prevent people from getting around the conditions of a grant or gift. However, it also allowed for the tying up of land in a single family for many generations.
Over time, ways were found to get around the restrictions of De Donis Conditionalibus, but it remains an important part of English legal history.