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Simple English definitions for legal terms
land cop
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A quick definition of land cop:
Term: LAND COP
Definition: In the past, when people sold land, they would use a special way to show that the land now belonged to the buyer. They would give a stick or a piece of grass called a "rod" to a person called a reeve, who would then give it to the buyer. This happened in court so that everyone could see it and know that the land had been sold. This way, no one else could come and say that they should have the land instead.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Land cop is a historical method of selling land where the transfer of ownership was symbolized by the exchange of a rod or festuca in court. The seller would give the rod to the reeve, who would then give it to the purchaser. This was done in court to provide better evidence of the transfer and to prevent any claims from expected heirs.
Example: In medieval England, a lord might sell a piece of land to a tenant farmer using the land cop method. The lord would give the rod to the reeve, who would then give it to the tenant farmer. This exchange would take place in court to ensure that the transfer was legally binding and that no one could dispute the sale.
Explanation: The example illustrates how land cop was used to transfer ownership of land in medieval England. The exchange of the rod in court provided legal proof of the transfer and prevented any future claims from heirs or other parties. This method was used to ensure that land sales were legally binding and that disputes could be resolved in court.