''Elegit'' (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for ''he has chosen'') was, in

English law English law is the common law list of national legal systems, legal system of England and Wales, comprising mainly English criminal law, criminal law and Civil law (common law), civil law, each branch having its own Courts of England and Wales, ...

, a judicial

writ of execution A writ of execution (also known as an execution) is a court order granted to put in force a judgment of possession obtained by a plaintiff from a court. When issuing a writ of execution, a court typically will order a sheriff or other similar of ...

, given by the Statute of Westminster II (1285), and so called from the words of the writ, that the plaintiff has chosen () this mode of satisfaction. Previously to the Statute of Westminster II, a judgment creditor could only have the profits of lands of a debtor in satisfaction of his judgment, but not the possession of the lands themselves. But this statute provided that henceforth it should be ''in the election'' of the party having recovered judgment to have a writ of ''

fieri facias A ''fieri facias'', usually abbreviated ''fi. fa.'' (Latin for ''that you cause to be made''), is a writ of execution after judgment obtained in a legal action for debt or damages for the sheriff to levy on goods of the judgment debtor. The term ...

'' unto the sheriff on lands and goods or else all the chattels of the debtor and the one half of his lands until the judgment be satisfied. By the

Bankruptcy Act 1883 Bankruptcy Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States relating to bankruptcy. The Bill for an Act with this short title ...

the writ of elegit extended to lands and hereditaments only. Writs of elegit were abolished on January 1, 1957, by the Administration of Justice Act 1956.

References

English legal terminology Writs Legal documents with Latin names {{English-law-stub