Elegit

Elegit was, in English law

English law

English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States except Louisiana...

, a judicial writ of execution, given by the Statute of Westminster II (1285), and so called from the words of the writ, that the plaintiff has chosen (elegit) 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

Fieri facias

A fieri facias, usually abbreviated fi. fa. is a writ of execution after judgment obtained in a legal action for debt or damages. The term is used in English law for such a writ issued in the High Court...

unto the sheriff on lands and goods or else ail the chattels of the debtor and the one half of his lands until the judgment be satisfied. Since the Bankruptcy Act 1883 the writ of elegit has extended to lands and hereditaments only.

Writs of elegit were abolished on January 1, 1957, by the Administration of Justice Act 1956 .