Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Quia Emptores
Definition: Quia Emptores was a law passed in 1290 that allowed tenants to sell their land to others, but required the new owner to take on the same obligations to the lord as the previous owner. This law helped to simplify the feudal system by eliminating multiple layers of loyalty and giving more power to the Crown. It was named after the first two words of its preamble, which mean "since purchasers."
Quia Emptores is a Latin term that means "since purchasers". It refers to a statute that was enacted in 1290 in England. The purpose of this statute was to give fee-simple tenants the power to sell their land and bind the transferee to perform the same services for the lord as the transferor had been obliged to perform.
For example, if a tenant sold their land to someone else, the new owner would be required to perform the same duties and services for the lord as the previous owner. This helped to eliminate multiple layers of fealty and concentrate feudal lordships in the Crown.
The Quia Emptores statute was important because it prevented the growth of subinfeudation, which was a practice where tenants would divide their land and create new tenancies. This made it difficult for lords to collect their dues and services from their tenants.
quia alimenta liberis non debentur nisi in subsidium | quia erronice emanavit