Legal Definitions - standing seised to uses

Definition: Standing seised to uses refers to the holding of title for the benefit or use of another person, such as a relative in consideration of blood or marriage. It is a type of conveyance that depends on the Statute of Uses for its effect.

Statute of Uses: The Statute of Uses was an English statute enacted in 1535 that converted the equitable title held by a beneficiary to a legal one in order to make the beneficiary liable for feudal dues. The statute discouraged the granting of property subject to another's use by deeming the person who enjoys the use to have legal title with the right of absolute ownership and possession.

Example: If John conveys land to Mary subject to the use of Sarah, then Sarah becomes the legal owner of the land in fee simple. This means that Sarah has the right to use and benefit from the land, even though she is not the one who holds the title to it.

Explanation: This example illustrates how standing seised to uses works. John is the feoffee to uses, which means he holds the legal title to the land. However, Sarah is the cestui que use, which means she is the beneficiary who has the right to use and benefit from the land. The Statute of Uses converted Sarah's equitable title to a legal one, making her the legal owner of the land.