Legal Definitions - frank ferm

Definition: Frank Ferm is a type of estate in land that was held in socage. It was created when the nature of the fee was changed from knight's service by enfeoffment for certain yearly services. It is also spelled as frank-ferme.

John inherited a piece of land from his father, who held it in frank ferm. This meant that John had to pay certain yearly services to the lord of the manor in exchange for the right to use the land.

Another example of frank ferm is when a tenant holds a piece of land from a lord and pays rent in exchange for the right to use the land.

These examples illustrate how frank ferm was a type of feudal tenure that allowed tenants to hold land in exchange for certain services or payments to the lord of the manor.