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Simple English definitions for legal terms
indenture of a fine
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A quick definition of indenture of a fine:
Indenture of a Fine: A document that shows how much money someone has to pay as a penalty for breaking the law. It was written by a special person called a chirographer of fines, who made two copies on the same piece of paper and then split it in half to make sure it was real. The chirographer also gave one copy to the person who had to pay the fine and one to the court.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: An indenture of a fine is a historical legal document that reflects penalties assessed by the court. It was engrossed by the chirographer of fines, who prepared indentures in duplicate on the same piece of parchment, then split the parchment along an indented line through a word, sentence, or drawing placed on the parchment to help ensure its authenticity.
Example: In the Court of Common Pleas, the chirographer of fines would engross court-ordered fines and deliver indentures of the fines to the parties. The chirographer would make two indentures, one for the buyer and another for the seller, and make one other indented piece containing the effect of the fine, which he would deliver over to the custos brevium, that is called the foot of the fine.
This example illustrates how the chirographer of fines would create an indenture of a fine and deliver it to the parties involved in the court-ordered fine. The indenture was a legal document that served as a record of the fine and was split along an indented line to ensure its authenticity.