FEE TAIL Meaning and
Definition
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Fee tail is a legal term referring to a type of estate in which the ownership of land is passed down within a family lineage, specifically to the direct descendants or heirs of the original grantee. Also known as "entail," fee tail is a restrictive form of property ownership that limits the ability to transfer or sell the land outside of the family bloodline.
Under fee tail, the property is inherited by the grantee's lineal descendants in perpetuity, ensuring that the land remains within the family and does not pass into the possession of someone unrelated. The grantee, called the "tenant in tail," holds a life estate interest in the property, meaning they have the right to possess and enjoy the land during their lifetime. Upon the tenant's death, ownership automatically passes to their direct descendants.
This type of estate is characterized by the "remainderman," who is the person designated to inherit the property after the tenant in tail's death. The remainderman holds a future interest and is usually specified in the original grant. It is possible for a fee tail to continue indefinitely through successive generations, provided there are direct descendants to inherit.
Fee tails were more common in historical legal systems, and many jurisdictions have since abolished or modified this form of property ownership due to its inherent limitations and complexities. However, some areas may still recognize fee tails and enforce their provisions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Common Misspellings for FEE TAIL
- feetail
- dee tail
- cee tail
- vee tail
- gee tail
- tee tail
- ree tail
- fwe tail
- fse tail
- fde tail
- fre tail
- f4e tail
- f3e tail
- few tail
- fes tail
- fed tail
- fer tail
- fe4 tail
- fe3 tail
- fee rail
- fee fail
Etymology of FEE TAIL
The term "fee tail" originated from the Old French phrase "en taillez", which means "in the cut" or "in tail". In medieval English law, it referred to a type of estate called "fee tail", where the land was entailed or limited to the direct descendents of a particular individual and could not be passed outside the bloodline. Over time, "en taillez" transformed into "fee tail" in the English language to describe this specific kind of hereditary land ownership.
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