Legal Definitions - manu aliena

Definition: Manu aliena is a Latin term used in Scots law to mean "by the hand of another." It was often used by notaries to indicate that a legal document was written by someone else.

Example: A notary might write "manu aliena" at the end of an instrument of seisin, which is a legal document used to transfer ownership of land. This would indicate that the notary did not write the document themselves, but that it was written by someone else.

Explanation: The use of "manu aliena" was important in legal documents because it helped to establish the authenticity of the document. By indicating that the document was written by someone else, it made it clear that the notary was not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies in the document. This was particularly important in cases where disputes arose over the ownership of land or other property.