Real Estate Conveyances from Livery of Seisin to Electronic Transfer: Real Estate Transactions Enter the Digital/Electronic World (Feature‪)‬

THE AGE OF "STICKS AND STONES:" MANUAL TRANSFER Prior to 1500, most real estate conveyances (1) were by livery of seisin: "livery" meaning delivery and "seisin" meaning possession. Ownership followed possession at that time: "Historically, the doctrine of livery of seisin referred to the ceremony by which the transferor conveyed property to the recipient. To successfully convey a fee interest in the property, the doctrine requires the physical transfer of a piece of ground, twig, key, or other symbol on the premises in the presence of witnesses." (2)