Livery of seisin
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Historically, the doctrine of livery of seisin referred to the ceremony by which the transferor conveyed property to the recipient pursuant to a conveyance. To succesfully convey a fee interest in the property, the doctrine requires the physical transfer of a piece of the ground, twig, key, or other symbol on the premises in the presence of witnesses.
Livery of seisin could refer to either:
- livery in deed, whereby the parties actually went on to the land, and the transferor symbolically delivered possession of the land by handing over a twig or a clump of earth to the recipient, or
- livery in law, whereby the parties went within sight of the land and the transferor telling the recipient that possession was being given, followed by the recipient entering the land.
