cestui que vie act 1666

Cestui Que Vie Act

          In 1666, during the black plague and great fires of London, Parliament enacted an Act in secret called the Cestui Que Vie Act 1666.  Cestui Que Vie is a French term pronounced say-twee koo vee, literally meaning "is it faith what life."  Loosely translated, this means they are taking the life of a person by faith.  Since many people were declared lost at sea, or missing, or even presumed to be one of the dead from the plague, this Act allowed the body to be declared dead in order for the land owners and masters to reclaim the property that was left or abandoned.

          The state of London took custody of the people as the estate and their property and held the value in trust.  This in turn, made the state the trustee holding all titles until such time as a living man or woman claimed their property.

          When an adult claimed their estate and property, they could also request all the interest for the lost time as well as damages if any of their property was destroyed or sold.  Until someone came forward, they were considered dead or lost at sea in accordance with Admiralty Law or the Law of the Sea.

          By subrogation, the Act converted every man, woman, and child, into a fictional entity.  Since they were all declared dead, they could not enter a court room without representation.  This can either be with a member of the B.A.R. association or pro se, which is a Latin term meaning "representing oneself."  Living men and women do not need to represent their dead fictional entity since they can make a special appearance called suis juris, which is Latin for "of one's own right."

          The difference between a dead fictional entity and a living man or woman is literally only on paper.  The dead fictional entity is always in trust and is recognized by the use of the ALL CAPS name.  This can be JOHN HENRY DOE, JOHN H. DOE, or simply JOHN DOE.  The living man or woman is recognized by the mixed name John Henry or John, with Doe being the family name.  Lawfully written as Doe,John,Henry / Doe,John,H / Doe,John or in Syntax Grammar as John-Henry: Doe.​ or John: Doe.  Either way, remember the ALL CAPS in any form is the DEAD ESTATE or TRUST.


Cestui Que Vie Act of 1666

CHAPTER 11, 18, and 19 Chapter 2

An Act for Redresse of Inconveniencies by want of Proofe of the Deceases of Persons beyond the Seas or absenting themselves, upon whose Lives Estates doe depend.

X1 Recital that Cestui que vies have gone beyond Sea, and that Reversioners cannot find out whether they are alive or dead.

Whereas diverse Lords of Mannours and others have granted Estates by Lease for one or more life or lives, or else for yeares determinable upon one or more life or lives And it hath often happened that such person or persons for whose life or lives such Estates have beene granted have gone beyond the Seas or soe absented themselves for many yeares that the Lessors and Reversioners cannot finde out whether such person or persons be alive or dead by reason whereof such Lessors and Reversioners have beene held out of possession of their Tenements for many yeares after all the lives upon which such Estates depend are dead in regard that the Lessors and Reversioners when they have brought Actions for the recovery of their Tenements have beene putt upon it to prove the death of their Tennants when it is almost impossible for them to discover the same, For remedy of which mischeife soe frequently happening to such Lessors or Reversioners.

Annotations:

Editorial Information

X1 Abbreviations or contractions in the original form of this Act have been expanded into modern lettering in the text set out above and below.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Short title “The Cestui que Vie Act 1666” given by Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), Sch. 2

C2 Preamble omitted in part under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), Sch. 1

C3 Certain words of enactment repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1888 (c. 3) and remainder omittedunder authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3


I. Cestui que vie remaining beyond Sea for Seven Years together and no Proof of their Lives, Judge in Action to direct a Verdict as though Cestui que vie were dead.

If such person or persons for whose life or lives such Estates have beene or shall be granted as aforesaid shall remaine beyond the Seas or elsewhere absent themselves in this Realme by the space of seaven yeares together and noe sufficient and evident proofe be made of the lives of such person or persons respectively in any Action commenced for recovery of such Tenements by the Lessors or Reversioners in every such case the person or persons upon whose life or lives such Estate depended shall be accounted as naturally dead, And in every Action brought for the recovery of the said Tenements by the Lessors or Reversioners their Heires or Assignes, the Judges before whom such Action shall be brought shall direct the Jury to give their Verdict as if the person soe remaining beyond the Seas or otherwise absenting himselfe were dead.


II.  F1

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F1  S. II repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), Sch. 1


III.  F2

Annotations:

Amendments (Textual)

F2  S. III repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (c. 125)


IV.  If the supposed dead Man prove to be alive, then the Title is revested. Action for mean Profits with Interest.

[X2 Provided alwayes That if any person or [X3 person or] persons shall be evicted out of any Lands or Tenements by vertue of this Act, and afterwards if such person or persons upon whose life or lives such Estate or Estates depend shall returne againe from beyond the Seas, or shall on proofe in any Action to be brought for recovery of the same [to] be made appeare to be liveing; or to have beene liveing at the time of the Eviction That then and from thenceforth the Tennant or Lessee who was outed of the same his or their Executors Administrators or Assignes shall or may reenter repossesse have hold and enjoy the said Lands or Tenements in his or their former Estate for and dureing the Life or Lives or soe long terme as the said person or persons upon whose Life or Lives the said Estate or Estates depend shall be liveing, and alsoe shall upon Action or Actions to be brought by him or them against the Lessors Reversioners or Tennants in possession or other persons respectively which since the time of the said Eviction received the Proffitts of the said Lands or Tenements recover for damages the full Proffitts of the said Lands or Tenements respectively with lawfull Interest for and from the time that he or they were outed of the said Lands or Tenements, and kepte or held out of the same by the said Lessors Reversioners Tennants or other persons who after the said Eviction received the Proffitts of the said Lands or Tenements or any of them respectively as well in the case when the said person or persons upon whose Life or Lives such Estate or Estates did depend are or shall be dead at the time of bringing of the said Action or Actions as if the said person or persons where then liveing.]

Annotations:

Editorial Information

X2 annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule

X3 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: O. omits [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]