Legal Definitions - commission of unlivery

COMMISSION OF UNLIVERY

Commission of unlivery is a historical court order that required the unloading of goods from a ship so that they could be appraised.

For example, if a ship arrived at a port and the customs officials suspected that the goods on board were undervalued, they could issue a commission of unlivery. This would require the goods to be unloaded from the ship so that they could be appraised and their true value determined.

Another example would be if a ship was suspected of carrying contraband goods, such as illegal drugs or weapons. In this case, a commission of unlivery could be issued to allow the authorities to search the ship and its cargo.

The examples illustrate how a commission of unlivery was used to ensure that goods entering a port were properly valued and to prevent the smuggling of illegal goods. By requiring the goods to be unloaded and appraised, the authorities could ensure that the correct taxes and duties were paid and that any illegal goods were seized.