Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: settlement credit
A chirographer of fines was a person who worked in a court and wrote down fines that were ordered by the court. They would then give a copy of the fine to the people involved in the case. They also made two copies of the fine, one for the buyer and one for the seller. They would also make another copy of the fine and give it to the custos brevium, which is a person who keeps records in the court. This copy was called the "foot of the fine."
Definition: A chirographer of fines was an officer in the Court of Common Pleas who was responsible for engrossing court-ordered fines and delivering indentures of the fines to the parties involved.
For example, if a person was fined by the court, the chirographer of fines would write up the details of the fine and create an indenture, or legal document, that would be given to the person who was fined. This document would serve as proof of the fine and the payment of it.
The chirographer of fines was also responsible for creating two indentures for the buyer and seller in a property transaction, as well as a third indenture that contained the details of the fine and was given to the custos brevium, or the officer responsible for keeping court records.
Overall, the chirographer of fines played an important role in ensuring that court-ordered fines were properly recorded and documented, and that all parties involved had the necessary legal documents to prove their compliance with the court's orders.