Legal Definitions - expeditio brevis

Expeditio brevis is an archaic legal term that refers to the formal delivery or "service" of a writ. A writ was a formal written order issued by a court or other legal authority, commanding a person to do something, refrain from doing something, or appear in court. Therefore, expeditio brevis describes the act of officially presenting this legal document to the intended recipient.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• In medieval England, if a landowner failed to pay their feudal dues, a royal court might issue a writ commanding them to appear before the King's justices. The act of a court official or a designated messenger formally delivering this writ to the landowner's estate would be an expeditio brevis.

  This illustrates expeditio brevis because it describes the official delivery (service) of a formal court order (writ) to a specific individual, initiating a legal obligation for them to respond.

• Imagine a dispute over land boundaries in the 17th century. A court, after hearing initial arguments, might issue a writ of possession ordering a local sheriff to remove an encroaching party from the disputed territory. The sheriff's deputy carrying and presenting this official court order to the encroaching party would be performing an expeditio brevis.

  Here, expeditio brevis refers to the formal presentation of a writ of possession, which is a court's command to take or restore property, to the party being ordered to vacate, thereby officially notifying them of the court's directive.

• During the 18th century, if a tenant farmer was accused of violating the terms of their lease, the landlord's legal representative might obtain a writ from a local magistrate ordering the tenant to show cause why they should not be evicted. The formal act of a bailiff or other authorized person handing this writ directly to the tenant, or posting it prominently on their dwelling if personal service was impossible, constituted an expeditio brevis.

  This demonstrates expeditio brevis as the official delivery of a writ (a court order to show cause) to the tenant, formally notifying them of the legal action against them and the requirement to respond.