Formedon

English Old Law: Formedon in the Past

The writ of formedon is nearly obsolete, it having been superseded by the writ of ejectment. Upon an alienation of the tenant (see more about this popular legal topic in the U.K. encyclopedia) in tail, by which the estate in tail is ended and the stayder or reversion is by the failure, of the particular estate, displaced and turned into a mere right, the remedy is by action of formedon, (secundum formam doni,) because the writ comprehends the form of the gift. This writ is in the nature of a writ of right and the action of formedon is the highest a tenant (see more about this popular legal topic in the U.K. encyclopedia) in tail can have. This writ is distinguished into three species; a formedon in the descender, in the stayder and in the reverter. 8 Bl. Com. 191 Bac. Ab. h. t.; 4 Mass. 64. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about formedon is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including formedon.

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