Legal Definitions - recto patens

Definition: Recto patens is a legal term that refers to the highest writ of right given to an owner in fee simple to recover the possession and use of land from the freehold tenant. It is also known as breve magnum de recto.

Example: If a landlord leases a property to a tenant, but the tenant refuses to vacate the property after the lease has expired, the landlord can use recto patens to regain possession of the property.

This example illustrates how recto patens can be used by a property owner to recover their property from a tenant who is occupying it without permission.