Legal Definitions - brevia formata

Definition: Brevia formata refers to short writs used in legal documents, unlike charters. The term "brevis" means "short." Brevia formata were often used in place of longer documents.

Examples:

• Album breve: A blank writ with a blank or omission in it.
• Apertum breve: An open, unsealed writ.
• Breve de bono et malo: A writ used to determine whether an act was done with good or bad intentions.
• Breve de conventione: A writ used to enforce a contract.

The examples illustrate how brevia formata were used in different legal situations. For instance, an album breve was a blank writ that could be filled in later, while an apertum breve was an unsealed writ that could be read by anyone. The breve de bono et malo was used to determine whether an act was done with good or bad intentions, while the breve de conventione was used to enforce a contract.