Legal Term Dictionary

Search our free database of thousands of legal terms. The easiest-to-read, most user-friendly guide to legal terms.This dictionary is from the early 20th century and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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  • WRIT OF DOWER
    This is either a writ of dower unde nihil habet, which lies for a widow, commanding the tenant to assign her dower, no part of which has yet been set off to her; or a writ of right of dower, whereby she seeks to recover the remainder of the dower More...
  • WRIT OF EJECTMENT
    The writ in an action of ejectment, for the recovery of lands. See EJECTMENT.
  • WRIT OF ENTRY
    A real action to recover the possession of land where the tenant (or owner) has been disseised or otherwise wrongfully dispossessed. If the disseisor has aliened the land, or if it has descended to his heir, the writ of entry is said to be in the per, because it alleges More...
  • WRIT OF FORMEDON
    A writ which lies for the recovery of an estate by a person claiming as issue in tail, or by the remainder-man or reversioner after the termination of the entail. See FORMEDON.
  • WRIT OF INQUIRY
    In common-law practice. A writ which issues after the plaintiff in an action has obtained a judgment by default, on an unliquidated claim, directing the sheriff, with the aid of a jury, to inquire into the amount of the plaintiff's demand and assess his damages. Lennon v. Rawitzer, 57 Conn. More...
  • WBIT OF ERROR
    A writ issued from a court of appellate jurisdiction, directed to the judge or judges of a court of record, requiring them to remit to the appellate court the record of an action before them, in which a final judgment has been entered, in order that examination may be made More...
  • WRIT OF EXECUTION
    A writ to put in force the judgment or decree of a court.
  • WRIT OF MAINPRIZE
    In English law. A writ directed to the sheriff, (either generally, when any man Is imprisoned for a bailable offense and ball has been refused, or specially, when the offense or cause of commitment Is not properly bailable below,) commanding him to take sureties for the prisoner's appearance, commonly called More...
  • WRIT OF FALSE JUDGMENT
    A writ which appears to be still in use to bring appeals to the English high court from inferior courts not of record proceeding according to the course of the common law. Archb Pr 1427.
  • WRIT OF MESNE
    In old English law. A writ which was so called by reason of the words used in the writ, namely, "Unde idem A. qui mediu8 est inter O. et prwfatum B.;" that is, A., who is mesne between C, the lord paramount, and B.f the tenant paravail. Co. lAtt lOOo.
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