Livery of seisin is the symbolic transfer of property during an ancient ceremony developed by medieval England. Seisin was specific to real property at the time of its use. In a traditional livery of seisin, the grantor would hand the grantee an item like a twig or dirt from the land, which would symbolize the grantee taking possession of the land. This process is equivalent to transferring a property’s fee simple between old and new owners or signing over the deed to a piece of land.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]