Liberum Tenementum

Liberum tenementum, a frank tenement or freehold. The plea of liberum tenementum, commonly pleaded by the defendant in an action of trespass, was the only case of usual occurrence in more modern practice, in which the allegation of a general freehold title in lieu of a precise allegation of title was sufficient. It was sustained by proof of any estate of freehold, whether in fee, in tail, or for life only, and whether in possession or expectant on determination of a term of years, but it did not apply to the case of a freehold estate in remainder or reversion, expectant on a particular estate of freehold, nor to copyhold tenure, Stephen on Pleading, 7th Edn. 257. Obsolete. See now PLEADING.