Legal Definitions - lie in livery

Lie in livery is a term used in legal history to describe a type of property that could be transferred by the delivery of a symbolic object, such as a key or a piece of turf, rather than by a written deed.

For example, if a lord wanted to transfer ownership of a piece of land to a vassal, he could do so by handing over a symbolic object that represented the land, such as a twig or a clod of earth. This act of delivery, known as livery of seisin, would be enough to transfer ownership of the land to the vassal.

Another example of a corporeal hereditament that could lie in livery was a house. If a lord wanted to transfer ownership of a house to a tenant, he could do so by handing over the key to the house. This act of delivery would be enough to transfer ownership of the house to the tenant.

The examples illustrate how livery of seisin was used to transfer ownership of corporeal hereditaments, or physical property, in medieval England. By delivering a symbolic object that represented the property, such as a twig or a key, the transfer of ownership could be completed without the need for a written deed. This made the process of transferring property simpler and more accessible to people who were not literate or who did not have access to legal professionals.