Statute of Frauds and Land Transactions

The English Parliament enacted the Statute of Frauds in 1676 "for the prevention of many fraudulent practices which are commonly endeavoured to be upheld by perjury and subornation of perjury." It became effective the following year. These practices had become common as a result of the confusion, turmoil, and lawlessness which had accompanied and followed the English Civil War and the Restoration. They were peculiarly common in those categories of transactions which were included within the formalism prescribed by the Statute. Those categories related to land transactions, and to certain types of agreements involving personal property.