Estoppel is a judicial device in common law legal systems whereby a court may prevent or "estop" a person from making assertions or from going back on his or her word; the person being sanctioned is "estopped". Estoppel may prevent someone from bringing a particular claim.

What is estoppel in simple terms?

Estoppel is a legal principle that prevents someone from arguing something or asserting a right that contradicts what they previously said or agreed to by law. It is meant to prevent people from being unjustly wronged by the inconsistencies of another person's words or actions.

What is an estoppel in real estate?

By definition, an estoppel certificate is “[a] signed statement by a party (such as a tenant or mortgagee) certifying for anoth- er's benefit that certain facts are correct, as that a lease exists, that there are no defaults, and that rent is paid to a certain date.