Legal Definitions - vacantia

Definition: Vacantia refers to property that has no owner or has been abandoned. It can also refer to property that is not disposed of by a deceased person's will and to which no relative is entitled under intestacy laws.

Examples:

• Ownerless property
• Goods that have been abandoned
• Property that belonged to a deceased person who had no heirs willing or able to make a claim

The term "vacantia" is often used in the context of property law. It refers to property that has no owner and can be claimed by anyone who finds it. For example, if someone finds a wallet on the street with no identification, the wallet and its contents would be considered vacantia. The finder would be entitled to keep the wallet and its contents, as there is no way to determine who the rightful owner is.

In some cases, vacantia property may escheat to the Crown. This means that the property becomes the property of the government. For example, if a person dies without a will and has no living relatives, their property would be considered vacantia. If no one comes forward to claim the property, it may escheat to the Crown.