relief

The objective of an action, proceeding, or motion; an award of damages or a judgment, decree, or order requiring an adversary to perform as directed or to refrain from specified conduct. As defined in the Federal Administrative Procedure Act:-the whole or part of any agency (1) grant of money, assistance, license, authority, exemption, exception, privilege or remedy; (2) recognition of any claim, right, immunity, privilege, exemption, or exception; or (3) taking any other action upon the application or petition of, and beneficial to, any person. 5 USC § 1001(f). Public aid to persons who are destitute and unable to support and maintain themselves. 41 Am J1st Poor L §§ 13 et seq. Anciently called "relevium,” --an incident to every feudal tenure, by way of fine or composition with the lord for taking up the estate, which was lapsed or fallen in by the death of the last tenant. Although reliefs originated while feuds were only life estates, they continued after feuds became hereditary, and hence were justly regarded as one of the heaviest grievances of tenure; especially when they were, as at first, merely arbitrary and at the will of the lord; so that if he demanded an exorbitant relief, the heir was disinherited. See 2 Bl Comm 65. "The relation of the heriot to the relief has been one of the chief battle-fields on which the fight of different theories of the early law has been waged. The date of the origin of the heriot has been material only as bearing upon this; and most of those who have studied the subject do not doubt their identity, or at least that it was upon the plan of the heriots that the Norman Conqueror fashioned his plan of relief, as Blackstone says." (Cf. 2 Bl Comm 423.) See Hammond's Blackstone. See poor person; welfare.