animal. Any living creature other than a human being. — Also termed creature. domestic animal. 1. An animal that is customarily devoted to the service of humankind at the time and in the place where it is helped. See DOMITAE NATURAE; MANSUETAE NATURAE. 2. Any animal that is statutorily so designated. feral animal. A domestic […]
festuca (fes-tyoo-k[schwa]). Hist. A rod, staff, or stick used as a pledge (or gage) of good faith by a party to a contract or as a token of conveyance of land. • In Roman law, a festuca was a symbol of ownership. — Also termed fistuca; vindicta. See LIVERY OF SEISIN. “The wed or gage,
A deed conveying title to real property to a trustee as security until the grantor repays a loan. • This type of deed resembles a mortgage. — Also termed trust deed; trust indenture; indemnity mortgage. — Also termed common-law mortgage. [Cases: Mortgages 8. C.J.S. Mortgages §§ 5–6, 10.]
curia (kyoor-ee-[schwa]), n. [Latin] 1. Roman law. One of 30 divisions (three tribes of ten curiae) into which the Roman people were said to be divided by Romulus. See comitia curiata under COMITIA. 2. Roman law. A legislative gathering, esp. of the Roman Senate; the building used for the gathering. 3. Hist. A judicial tribunal
recording act. A law that establishes the requirements for recording a deed or other property interest and the standards for determining priorities between persons claiming interests in the same property (usu. real property). • Recording acts — the three main types of which are the notice statute, the race statute, and the race-notice statute —
in fact. Actual or real; resulting from the acts of parties rather than by operation of law. Cf. IN LAW.
formedon (for-m[schwa]-don). [fr. Latin forma doni “form of the gift”] Hist. A writ of right for claiming entailed property held by another. • A writ of formedon was the highest remedy available to a tenant in tail. — Also termed writ of formedon. [Cases: Real Actions 4.] “Called formedon, because the writ comprehended the form
nantissement (non-tis-mahn), n. [French] French law. A security or pledge. • If it involves movable property, it is called “gage.” If it involves immovable property such as real estate, it is called “antichrèse.”
fuero (foo-wer-oh).Spanish law. 1. A forum; court. 2. The territory in which a court has the power to act. 3. A privilege enjoyed by some but not others. 4. A custom having the force of law. 5. Hist. A collection of local, usu. customary, laws. Fuero Juzgo (hooz-goh). Hist. A 7th-century Visigothic code that was