Legal Definitions - licentia transfretandi

Licentia transfretandi is a Latin term that means "permission to cross the sea." In legal history, it refers to a writ that orders the wardens of seaports to allow a named person to cross the sea under certain conditions.

For example, if a person needed to travel to another country for business or personal reasons, they could apply for a licentia transfretandi writ. If the writ was granted, the wardens of the seaport would be required to allow the person to cross the sea.

Another example would be during times of war, when a person needed to travel to a neutral country. They could apply for a licentia transfretandi writ to ensure safe passage across the sea.

These examples illustrate how a licentia transfretandi writ was used to grant permission to cross the sea under specific circumstances.