elegit

[ ih-lee-jit ]

noun

, Law.

1. a writ of execution against a judgment debtor's goods, property, or land, held by the judgment creditor until payment of the debt, as from rents on the land.

Word History and Origins

Origin of elegit¹

1495–1505; < Latin: he has chosen, perfect 3rd person singular indicative of ēligere; so called from wording of writ

Example Sentences

It is to this same period that is owed the writ Elegit which introduced the law practice of a creditor's remedy over real estate.

From Project Gutenberg

Writ of Elegit.—The writ of elegit is a process enabling the creditor to satisfy his judgment debt out of the lands of the debtor.

From Project Gutenberg

The writ of elegit was first authorized by the Statute of Westminster the Second, which gave the judgment-creditor the right to choose between a writ against the debtor's land, and until 1883 his goods also, and an execution by writ against the latter's person or chattels.

From Project Gutenberg

The new writ, representing the choice of the creditor, was therefore called an elegit, Lat., he has chosen.

From Project Gutenberg

Since the Bankruptcy Act 1883 the writ of elegit has extended to lands and hereditaments only.

From Project Gutenberg