Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Primer seisin is a historical term that refers to the completion of a ceremony where a tenant was admitted into freehold ownership of a piece of land. It means that the tenant has the right to possess and own the land. In Louisiana law, it also refers to the right of universal successors to own and possess a person's estate immediately upon their death. Essentially, primer seisin means that someone has the legal right to own and use a piece of land or property.
Definition: Primer seisin is the right of the Crown to receive one year's profits of an inherited estate (or half a year's profits if the estate was in reversion) from the heir of a tenant who died in possession of a knight's fee.
Example: If John inherited a piece of land from his father who died while in possession of a knight's fee, John would have to pay the Crown one year's profits of the land as primer seisin.
This example illustrates how primer seisin was a way for the Crown to collect revenue from inherited estates.