Scire Facias - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition scire-facias

Definition :

Scire facias [Lat.] (that you cause to know), a judicial writ, founded upon some record, and requiring the person against whom it is brought to show cause why the party bringing it should not have advantage of such record.

The writ, though not abolished, is now out of use except in Crown Practice on the Revenue side of the King's Bench Division for recovery of Crown debts and also for rescinding Crown grants and charters, etc. Scire facias on recognizances and to repeal letters patent have been abolished: see as to patents, Patents and Designs Act, 1907. Formerly the issue of the writ was considered in some cases as an original proceeding; in others, interlocutory, and in the nature of process. Consult Hals. L.E., tit. 'Crown Practice.'

A scire facias was formerly resorted to in Chancery suits, when they became abated; but this mode became superseded in practice by the order of revivor, which see.