Obs. or Hist. [L. utrum, neut. sing. of uter which, whether.] A writ authorizing the holding of an assize to decide the status of a property (see quot. 1728) Usu. in assize of utrum.
c. 1290. Britton (1865), II. 206. La quarte assise est de Utrum. Ibid., 207. Le bref de Utrum pur le clerc.
1592. Rastell, Law Terms, Vtrum is a writ and it lyeth when the right of any Church is aliened and holden in lay fee.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., [following Cowell s.v. Assise de utrum], Assize of Utrum, lies for a Parson against a Layman, or a Layman against a Parson, for Land or Tenement, doubtful whether it be in Lay-fee, or Free-alms.
1865. Nichols, Britton, I. I. 207, margin. Utrum, the parson’s writ of right. Ibid., 208, margin. No assize of Utrum for land belonging to cathedral or convent.
1881. Twiss, Bracton (Rolls), IV. 622. [Assise] of Utrum may not be brought by a vicar for a small pension paid to a religious house. Ibid. Assise of utrum can never be taken upon a previous assise of utrum.
