DE DONIS Meaning and
Definition
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De Donis is a Latin term that refers to the legal concept of "entailment" or "conditional gift" in the English law of property and land. It can be defined as a medieval legal innovation that created an inheritable estate in land with restrictions, usually in the form of future reversionary interests.
The concept of De Donis originated from the statute De Donis Conditionalibus, enacted in England in 1285 during the reign of King Edward I. This statute allowed landowners to create conditional gifts of land, ensuring that the property would remain in the family for generations to come. The statute specified that the property could only be inherited by direct descendants of the original grantee, thus preventing alienation and ensuring the continuance of the family lineage.
Under De Donis, the land was "entailed," meaning that it could not be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by subsequent generations. While the possessors of the land had the right to use it for their lifetime, the future inheritance was fixed and could not be altered. In the event that the last direct descendant died without heirs, the property would revert back to the original grantor or his heirs.
Although the concept of De Donis has largely become obsolete in modern property law, its influence can still be seen in the legal developments surrounding trusts and estates. It played a significant role in shaping the English feudal system and laid the groundwork for the evolution of property rights and land tenure.
Common Misspellings for DE DONIS
- se donis
- xe donis
- ce donis
- fe donis
- re donis
- ee donis
- dw donis
- ds donis
- dd donis
- dr donis
- d4 donis
- d3 donis
- de sonis
- de xonis
- de conis
- de fonis
- de ronis
- de eonis
- de dinis
- de dknis
Etymology of DE DONIS
The term "de donis" is derived from Latin, specifically from the phrase "de donis conditionalibus", which means "of conditional gifts". It originated from the statute enacted by the English Parliament in 1285, known as the Statute of Westminster II. The statute was written in Latin, and the phrase "de donis conditionalibus" referred to the legal framework created by the statute. Over time, "de donis" became the commonly used shorthand term to refer to the statute and the concept of entailment it introduced into English land law.
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