Legal Definitions - locus partitus

LOCUS PARTITUS

Locus partitus (loh-kus pahr-ti-tus) is a Latin term that means "a place divided." In history, it refers to the act of dividing two towns or counties to determine which of them contains the land or place in question.

One example of locus partitus is the division of the town of Springfield in Massachusetts. In 1774, the town was divided into two parts, with the western part becoming West Springfield. This was done to settle a dispute over the location of the town's meetinghouse.

Another example is the division of the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland in England. In the 12th century, the two counties were divided by King Henry I to determine which one would contain the land of Carlisle.

Locus partitus was a common practice in history when there was a dispute over the ownership of a particular land or place. By dividing the towns or counties, it was easier to determine which one had the rightful claim to the disputed area. The examples illustrate how locus partitus was used to settle disputes over land ownership in different parts of the world.