Legal Definitions - land cop

Definition: Land cop is a historical method of selling land where the transfer of ownership was symbolized by the exchange of a rod or festuca in court. The seller would give the rod to the reeve, who would then give it to the purchaser. This was done in court to provide better evidence of the transfer and to prevent any claims from expected heirs.

Example: In medieval England, a lord might sell a piece of land to a tenant farmer using the land cop method. The lord would give the rod to the reeve, who would then give it to the tenant farmer. This exchange would take place in court to ensure that the transfer was legally binding and that no one could dispute the sale.

Explanation: The example illustrates how land cop was used to transfer ownership of land in medieval England. The exchange of the rod in court provided legal proof of the transfer and prevented any future claims from heirs or other parties. This method was used to ensure that land sales were legally binding and that disputes could be resolved in court.