Fee Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Fee, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Fee?

n. 1) Derived from old French, fief, for “payment.” Refers to absolute title in land and often appears in deeds that transfer title. “Fee” can be modified to illustrate that the title was dependent upon another occurrence or could be terminated upon a future event. 2) Service charge.

History and Meaning of Fee

The term "fee" has its origins in the old French word "fief," meaning a payment or a reward. In the context of law, a fee refers to absolute title in land and often appears in deeds that transfer title. The fee can be modified to illustrate that the title was dependent upon another occurrence or could be terminated upon a future event.

In modern times, the term "fee" is often used to describe a payment or charge for services, such as a legal fee or a service charge. It can also refer to a payment made to a professional, such as a doctor or a lawyer, for their services.

Examples of Fee

  1. John paid a fee of $500 to his lawyer for representing him in the court case.
  2. The company charges a fee of $10 per month for their maintenance service.
  3. Sarah inherited a fee simple estate from her grandfather, which meant she had absolute title in the land.

Legal Terms Similar to Fee

Here are some related legal terms:

  1. Fee simple: A type of absolute ownership in land.
  2. Fee tail: A type of ownership that limits the inheritance of the property to certain heirs.
  3. Fee simple defeasible: A type of ownership that can be terminated upon the occurrence of a specific event.