Legal Definitions - absque aliquo inde reddendo

The Latin phrase absque aliquo inde reddendo is a historical legal term meaning "without rendering anything therefrom."

Historically, this phrase was used in royal charters and land grants to indicate that the recipient of land or property received it absolutely, without any ongoing obligations, services, rents, or other returns owed back to the grantor (typically the monarch). Essentially, it meant the grant was made freely and completely, with no strings attached in terms of future performance or payment to the original giver.

• Historical Land Grant Example:

  Imagine King Henry VIII granting a large manor and its surrounding lands to a loyal nobleman who had served him valiantly in battle. The royal charter for this grant explicitly states that the land is given "absque aliquo inde reddendo."

  Explanation: This phrase ensured that the nobleman received full ownership of the manor and lands without any feudal obligations, such as providing a certain number of knights for military service, paying annual tribute, or performing specific labor for the Crown, which were common conditions in other land grants. The nobleman owned the property outright, free from ongoing duties or payments *to the king* stemming from that particular grant.

• Modern Charitable Donation (Analogous Spirit):

  Consider a wealthy philanthropist who donates a significant collection of rare books to a university library. The donation agreement specifies that the books are given as an outright gift, with no conditions requiring the university to pay any future fees, share a percentage of any exhibition revenues, or return any portion of the collection's value to the donor.

  Explanation: While not using the Latin phrase, the spirit of this donation is "absque aliquo inde reddendo." The university receives the valuable collection without owing the philanthropist any ongoing financial returns or obligations *from the collection itself*. The gift is complete and unconditional in terms of future payments back to the donor.

• Government Asset Transfer (Analogous Spirit):

  A city government decides to transfer ownership of a surplus municipal building to a non-profit community center. The legal documents for the transfer state that the building is conveyed to the non-profit without any reserved rights for the city to collect future rent, a share of the non-profit's operating income, or any other financial return from the property.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the city has effectively given the building to the community center "absque aliquo inde reddendo." The non-profit receives the asset outright and is not required to "render anything therefrom" in terms of ongoing payments or financial returns to the municipal government for the use or future development of the property.