Legal Definitions - customary seisin

Definition: Customary seisin is a type of possession of a freehold estate in land, which was completed through the ceremony of feudal investiture. It refers to the right of a tenant to be admitted into freehold and own the land. In Louisiana law, it refers to the right of universal successors to own and possess a person's estate directly and immediately upon that person's death.

Example: A lord grants a piece of land to a tenant through the ceremony of feudal investiture. The tenant is then said to have customary seisin of the land, which means they have the right to own and possess it.

Explanation: Customary seisin was a way of completing the transfer of ownership of land from a lord to a tenant. It was a formal ceremony that involved the lord giving the tenant a symbolic object, such as a clod of earth or a twig, to represent the land. The tenant would then take possession of the land and become the owner. In Louisiana law, customary seisin refers to the right of a person's heirs to inherit their estate upon their death.