Legal Definitions - enfeoffment

Enfeoffment is the process of transferring ownership and possession of a piece of land from one person to another. It can also refer to the land or property that is being transferred, or the legal document that makes the transfer official.

For example, if a landowner wants to give their land to someone else, they would go through the process of enfeoffment. This might involve signing a legal document that transfers ownership of the land to the new owner. The new owner would then become responsible for maintaining the land and paying any taxes or fees associated with it.

Enfeoffment was an important part of medieval land ownership, and it played a key role in the feudal system. Under this system, lords would grant land to their vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. The vassals would then become responsible for managing the land and providing support to the lord.