Legal Definitions - life land

Definition: Life land refers to land that is leased for a specific period of time, measured by the life of one or more individuals. It is also known as a life-hold.

Example: In medieval England, life land was a common form of land tenure. A lord would grant a tenant the right to use the land for the duration of their life or the life of another person. Once the person died, the land would revert back to the lord.

Explanation: This example illustrates how life land was used in medieval England as a way for lords to maintain control over their land while still allowing tenants to use it for a specific period of time. The lease was tied to the life of a person, which meant that the tenant could not pass the land on to their heirs. This ensured that the lord always had control over the land and could use it as they saw fit.