Alienation (property law)

In property law, alienation is the capacity for a piece of property or a property right to be sold or otherwise transferred from one party to another. Although property is generally deemed to be alienable, it may be subject to restraints on alienation. In England under the feudal system, land was generally transferred by subinfeudation and alienation required licence from the overlord.

Aboriginal title is one example of inalienability (save to the Crown) in common law jurisdictions.

See also

• Inalienable rights
• Quia Emptores
• First-sale doctrine