Legal Definitions - writ of quare impedit

A writ of quare impedit is a legal term used in ecclesiastical law. It is a writ or action that enforces a patron's right to present a person to fill a vacant benefice. The term comes from the Latin phrase "why he hinders."

For example, if a patron believes that a bishop or pseudo-patron is obstructing their right to present a proper person to a vacant church, they can use a writ of quare impedit to command the disturbers to permit the presentation. If the defendants do not comply, they must appear in court to explain why they are hindering the patron.

This writ was commonly used in England during the Middle Ages and is still used in some countries today. It is an important tool for protecting the rights of patrons in the appointment of clergy.