About: Proof of age inquisition

A proof of age inquisition was required during the feudal era in England to enable a minor to exit wardship. The age of majority to be proved for a male was 21, for a female 14 if married, 16 if unmarried. Witnesses were required to give evidence of the subject's date of birth, or christening. The findings of the inquisition were returned to the appropriate court, which then ordered the guardian to release the property to the ward, who obtained seizin. If the minor was a tenant-in-chief the inquisition reported to the appropriate Royal Court. The first stage of the process was the application by the ward for a writ for the inquisition to commence. This was effectively a written order by the king to the escheator in the county in which the ward's lands were situated, to empanel witnesses an