Legal Definitions - engross

Engross is a legal term with several meanings, primarily referring to the preparation of a final, official version of a document, or historically, to specific methods of document creation or market practices.

• 1. To prepare a final legal document for signing or formal approval.

  This is the most common modern legal use of the term. It means creating the definitive version of a legal document that is ready for signatures, sealing, or other actions that make it legally binding and effective.

  • Example 1: Before a client can finalize their estate plan, the attorney must engross the will and trust documents. This involves ensuring all clauses are correctly stated, beneficiaries are accurately listed, and the documents are formatted for the client's signature and witness attestation.

    Explanation: In this context, "engrossing" means preparing the complete, final versions of the will and trust that are ready for the client's formal approval and signature, making them legally effective.

  • Example 2: A corporate lawyer was tasked with engrossing the merger agreement between two companies. This required compiling all the agreed-upon terms, schedules, and exhibits into a single, comprehensive document ready for the CEOs of both companies to sign.

    Explanation: Here, "engross" refers to the act of assembling and finalizing the official version of the merger agreement, making it ready for formal execution by the parties involved.

• 2. To prepare a legislative bill or resolution for a final vote.

  In a legislative context, "engrossing" refers to the process of compiling the final, official text of a bill or resolution after it has passed through various committee stages and amendments, making it ready for a definitive vote by the full legislative body.

  • Example: After a proposed education reform act passed through the House committee with several amendments, the legislative clerk was tasked to engross the bill. This involved incorporating all approved changes into a single, coherent document for the full House of Representatives to review and vote on.

    Explanation: The clerk's role was to create the definitive, updated version of the bill, reflecting all agreed-upon changes, so it could proceed to a final vote by the entire legislative body.

• 3. (Historical) To handwrite a formal legal document in a specific, often large, script.

  Historically, this term referred to the meticulous process of writing out official legal documents, such as deeds or wills, by hand in a formal, often elaborate or large script, ensuring their authenticity and permanence.

  • Example: In the 16th century, a royal scribe would engross a new charter granting privileges to a city, carefully penning the intricate details onto parchment using a distinctive, formal script to ensure its legal validity and historical record.

    Explanation: This illustrates the historical practice of physically writing out a legal document in a specific, formal style to create an official and legally recognized record.

• 4. (Historical) To acquire a large quantity of a commodity or stock to control its market price.

  In an older, economic sense, "engrossing" referred to the practice of buying up a significant portion of a particular good or asset in the market with the intent to monopolize its supply and manipulate its price. This practice was often associated with market manipulation and was sometimes illegal.

  • Example: During a period of high demand for spices in the 17th century, a wealthy merchant attempted to engross all the available cinnamon in the port city, hoping to create a monopoly and dictate its selling price to local traders and consumers.

    Explanation: This example shows the historical act of accumulating a large supply of a commodity to control its market and pricing, a practice often associated with unfair market manipulation.