Statute of Uses

The Statute of Uses, enacted in 1536, was a law that aimed to prevent people from avoiding taxes or legal responsibilities by transferring land to someone else on paper, while still controlling it behind the scenes. It sought to clarify legal ownership and ensure landholders could not secretly pass benefits or control without formal recognition. This law reduced the use of "uses" — arrangements where one person held land for another’s benefit — thereby making ownership more transparent and easier for authorities to monitor and tax.