Legal Definitions - escheat patent

An escheat patent is a type of grant given by the government to a new owner for land that has been escheated, or taken back, from the previous owner due to certain circumstances such as abandonment or lack of heirs. It is also known as an escheat grant.

• A government takes back a piece of land from an owner who has passed away without any heirs. The government then grants the land to a new owner through an escheat patent.
• A community grant is a type of grant given by the government for communal use, to be held in common with no right to sell. An example of this would be a park or playground that is owned by the community and cannot be sold to private individuals.
• An inclusive grant is a deed or grant that describes the boundaries of the land conveyed and excepts certain parcels within those boundaries from the conveyance, usually because those parcels of land are owned or claimed by others. An example of this would be a piece of land that has a small portion owned by a neighboring property owner, which is excluded from the grant.

These examples illustrate the different types of grants that can be given by the government or individuals for various purposes, such as communal use or private ownership. The escheat patent specifically refers to the transfer of land that has been taken back by the government due to certain circumstances.