Legal Definitions - seisor

A seisor refers to an individual who legally acquires or holds possession of real property (such as land or a building) under a freehold estate. A freehold estate signifies an indefinite right to own and possess the property, distinguishing it from a temporary lease or rental agreement.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a seisor:

• Imagine Ms. Chen purchases a new home. After the closing documents are signed and the deed is transferred, she receives the keys and moves into the property. At this point, Ms. Chen becomes the seisor of her new home because she has legally taken possession of the freehold estate.

• Consider Mr. Davies, who inherits a large family ranch after his grandmother passes away. Upon the completion of the probate process, the title to the ranch is legally transferred to him, and he begins to manage the property, living on it and overseeing its operations. Mr. Davies is now the seisor of the ranch, having taken legal possession of the freehold estate through inheritance.

• Suppose a real estate development company, through its authorized representative Mr. Evans, buys a large undeveloped parcel of land with the intention of building a new residential community. Once the purchase is finalized and the company takes legal control and possession of the land, Mr. Evans, acting on behalf of the company, can be considered the seisor of that specific plot of land, as the company now holds the freehold estate.