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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Court of Wards and Liveries
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A quick definition of Court of Wards and Liveries:
The Court of Wards and Liveries was a court that was created in 1540 to help the Crown collect money from people who owned land. When someone who owned land died, the court would investigate who their heir was and how old they were. This helped the Crown collect money from the new landowner. However, the court was not liked by many people and was abolished in 1660.
A more thorough explanation:
The Court of Wards and Liveries was a court established in 1540 to enforce the Crown's right to income from various feudal tenures. Its purpose was to hold inquests of office, known as inquisitio post mortem, to determine the lands and heirs of the king's tenants upon their death. This allowed the Crown to claim benefits such as wardship, relief, and primer-seisin.
For example, if a tenant died, the Court of Wards and Liveries would hold an inquest to determine who the tenant's heir was and what lands they inherited. The Crown could then claim wardship, which meant that they would have control over the heir's property until they reached adulthood.
The Court of Wards and Liveries was abolished in 1660 due to its unpopularity and the oppressive tenures upon which it was founded.