Legal Definitions - livery in chivalry

Definition: Livery in chivalry refers to the act of delivering possession of real property from a guardian to a ward in chivalry when the ward reaches the age of majority.

Example: In medieval times, when a nobleman died leaving his heir a minor, the king would take control of the estate until the heir reached the age of majority. Once the heir turned 21, the king would perform the livery in chivalry, which involved handing over the estate to the heir.

Explanation: The example illustrates how livery in chivalry was used to transfer ownership of real property from a guardian to a ward in chivalry. In this case, the king acted as the guardian and the heir as the ward. Once the heir reached the age of majority, the king would perform the livery in chivalry, which was a formal ceremony that involved handing over the estate to the heir. This ensured that the heir had full control over the property and could manage it as he saw fit.