feudaltitles.com
This platform is run to warn people of dubious companies and platforms selling fake manorial and feudal titles as genuine.
It is not clear who runs the site as they use the name of 'Seigneur'
Whilst it is helpful to prospective buyers of titles to be warned of the pitfalls of many platforms activities we are sure that the general public are fully aware that they cannot buy a real title for the prices that most charge. We are sure that they buy these titles for fun and to have a laugh on pretending to be a Lord or a Laird.
What is a concern however, are those platforms/companies selling fake titles as genuine. That is fraudulent behaviour. Platforms such as Manorial Counsel Ltd, Nobility.co.uk and manorial-titles-for-sale-by-private treaty are selling the use of the name of a title as quiet enjoyment. These are not genuine titles. They are not titles but the use of the title name. These platforms grossly mislead their clients into thinking that they hold genuine titles.
Another concern is that two companies/platforms are using Epitome of Title Deeds to try to convince purchasers that the titles they are selling are genuine with valid owners?. An Epitome of Title Deed is for land and property and not manorial or feudal titles. - Epitome of Title
An Epitome of Title Deed does not prove that a holder of a title has valid ownership nor does it prove that a title in genuine - Epitome of Title
Seigneur had an interview with Manorial Society of Great Britain. He has been grossly misled as he failed to undertake research into what an Epitome of Title is and various sections of law covering manorial titles. We see that a donation has been made to feudaltitles. Is this to cover for the fact that MSGB is misleading people.
This is the interview:
“Epitome of Title” – How to Recognise Legitimate Titles: An Interview w/Stephen Johnson, Chairman of the MSGB
Experienced Readers may have run across online vendors who suggest that “Under current law, to prove ownership of a LORDSHIP a person needs a set of consecutive deeds dating back to before 1189 (time immemorial) or in some cases back to a later Crown grant.”
This is rubbish – and they know it.
Don’t take our word for it, however. Let’s ask a competent researcher with nearly thirty years of experience drafting manorial histories – Stephen Johnson, Chairman of the Manorial Society of Great Britain.
Stephen, what are your thoughts on the quote above?
Stephen scoffs, “This is not true. No manor in England has such deeds and it is not a requirement to buy or sell a lordship. You need merely to prove that you are the owner through Epitome of Title. Like any property.”
That’s helpful but, wait a moment though, what was that bit about “Epitome of Title?” What is that?
Stephen responds, “An Epitome of Title is a collection of papers which provides proof that the owner of a manorial lordship title is entitled to sell that lordship in their name. It is essential for Manorial Services that any potential Vendor has a clear epitome which has been checked and verified by a solicitor.”
He continues, “If anyone approaches us to sell, then the first thing we ask them is that they provide copies of their paperwork. We usually require a copy of the conveyance to them from the previous owner, or a copy of the conveyance to the person who bought it and left it to them or passed it to them by Deed of Transfer…Once we have established that they are the owners we then pass them into the hands of a solicitor who will review their papers and put their title into a saleable condition.”
We’ve read about the use of something called a statutory declaration being used. What’s that and how is it used today?
Stephen answers, “There are instances where paperwork has been lost but there is evidence to show that the purchaser did in fact buy the lordship. In this instance we may be asked by the Vendor’s solicitor to prepare a historical statutory declaration to demonstrate how the manor descended from Domesday to the ownership of the noble family who sold it. The solicitor may also prepare a stat dec using any papers which show the Vendor did in fact buy the lordship; they can use payment receipt evidence, signed bid forms, letters of recognition, etc. This is not ideal but if the solicitor feels that title can be shown by this method then we trust their expertise.
We would never sell a lordship based on our own stat decs.
We only sell a title if a solicitor is happy that the epitome is intact or in combination with their own stat dec. These latter forms are rare. I would say less than 10%. Obviously, if the buyer’s solicitor is not happy with this then the sale does not go ahead.”
This seems like a thorough process - similar to what I might expect to buy an acre of land. How does it differ from that of the earlier mentioned competitors?
Stephen asserts, “We differ from online competition in that we sell titles which belong to the Vendor based on the criteria outlined above. We are a broker and do not claim to own any title nor somehow ‘create’ title from ignorance of historical ownership.”
That’s very helpful, Stephen. Could you perhaps illustrate this for us? Give us an example of what a good Epitome of Title, and conveyance, looks like? A picture speaks a thousand words, mate!
“Certainly.”
It is with the express permission of the present Lord of Sewell that we provide copies of the Epitome of Title they received as part of the conveyance process.
This is what competent research and pedigree looks like. While registered titles are especially fine examples, all credible titles sold should include an Epitome of Title and copies of all supporting documentation.
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