Legal Definitions - fiar

FIAR

In Scots law, a fiar is a person who holds an estate in fee, as opposed to a liferenter.

Example 1: John inherited a piece of land from his father. As a fiar, he has complete ownership of the land and can sell it or pass it on to his heirs.

Example 2: Mary was granted a liferent of a house by her late husband's will. She can live in the house for the rest of her life, but she cannot sell it or pass it on to anyone else. The fiar of the house is her son, who will inherit it after Mary's death.

A fiar is someone who has full ownership of an estate, meaning they can sell it, pass it on to their heirs, or do whatever they wish with it. In contrast, a liferenter only has the right to use the estate for the duration of their lifetime, but they cannot sell it or pass it on to anyone else. The examples illustrate the difference between a fiar and a liferenter, with John being a fiar who can do whatever he wants with his land, while Mary is a liferenter who can only use the house for the rest of her life.