Legal Definitions - lex Kantiae

LEX KANTIAE

Lex Kantiae is a Latin term that refers to a set of customs related to land ownership that were prevalent in Kent during the reign of Edward I.

One example of a custom under Lex Kantiae was gavelkind, which meant that when a father died, his property was divided equally among his sons instead of being passed down to the eldest son. Another example was borough-English, which allowed the youngest son to inherit the family property instead of the eldest.

Lex Kantiae was a set of customs that governed land ownership in Kent during the 13th century. These customs were unique to Kent and differed from the common law that was practiced in the rest of England. The examples of gavelkind and borough-English illustrate how these customs were different from the common law. Gavelkind allowed for equal distribution of property among sons, while borough-English allowed for the youngest son to inherit. These customs were important in shaping the land ownership practices in Kent during this time period.