Legal Definitions - De Donis Conditionalibus

De Donis Conditionalibus is an English statute that was enacted in 1285. It allowed for the creation of a fee tail, which is an estate that can only be passed down to the heirs of the original owner.

For example, if John owns a piece of land and creates a fee tail by saying "I give this land to my son, and then to his heirs," the land can only be passed down to John's son and his descendants. It cannot be sold or given away to anyone else.

This statute was created to prevent people from getting around the conditions of a grant or gift. However, it also allowed for the tying up of land in a single family for many generations.

Over time, ways were found to get around the restrictions of De Donis Conditionalibus, but it remains an important part of English legal history.