Attornment

[L. Lat. attomamenturn, attomatio; L. Fr. attoumance,] In feudal and old English law. A turning over, or transfer by a lord, of the services of his tenant to the grantee of his seigniory. A transfer by the tenant of his services to the grantee, or new lord; a tenant's consent to a transfer of lands by his lord; or his ac- Imowledgment or acceptance of the grantee as his lord, in place of the former lord.* See Attorn, Attomare.

In English law

An agreement of a tenant to the grant of a seigniory, [i. e. to become tenant to a new lorn of the seigniory,] or of a rent; or the agreement of a donee in tail, or tenant for life, or years, to amnt of a reversion or of a remainder, made to another, [i. e. to become connected with him in the relation of landlord and tenant of the tenement.] Shep. TbwcA. (by Preston), 258.

Co, Litt, 309.

Attornment might be by words alone, as by saying to the grantee, " I agree to the grant made to you, or " I am well content with the grant made to you;" but the most common attornment was to sav, " Sir, I attorn to you by force of the said jfrant," or, "I become your tenant;" or it might be in writing to the same effect; or it might be by delivering to the ^^rantee a penny, or a h^ penny, or a farthmg, by way of attornment. l Att, sect.

551, 563, 554. Co, Litt, 309 b.

Attornment continued to be a necessary ceremony in the transfer of estates, until dispensed with by the statutes of 4 <& 5 Anne, c.

16, and 11 Geo. II. c. 19. 2 BL Com. 290. 1 Steph, Com. 434 — 436, 475.

In the United States, attornment may be considered as abolished.

4 Ken Vs Com. 490, 491.

The term however continues to be applied to the acts of tenants, in somewhat of its ancient signification. See Attorn,