A
A communi observantia non est recedendum. There should be no departure from ordinary rules
A verbis legis non recedendum est. The words of the law must not be departed from
Acquitas agit in personam. Equity acts in person
Acta exteriora indicant interiora secreta. Overt acts make known latent thoughts, or Acts indicate the intention.
Actio personalis moritur cum persona. A personal action dies with the person.
Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea. The act itself does not make a man guilty, unless his intention be so.
Ad questiones facit non respondent judices; ad questiones juris non respondent juratores. A judge does not decide questions of fact, the jury do not decide questions of law
Adatu. From the date
Aequitas est quasi aequalitas. Equity delighteth in equality
Aequitas factum habet quod fieri oportuit. Equity considers that as done which ought to be done.
Aequitus sequitur legem. Equity follows the law
Animus hominis est anima scripti. The intent of a man is the essence of his writing
Apices juris non sunt jura. The law must avoid the falsehood of extreme
Aqua cedit solo. Water passes with the soil.
Aqua currit et debet currere. Water flows and should be allowed to flow.
Ars longa, vita brevis. Art is long and life is short
Assignatus utitur jure auctoris. An assignee is clothed with the rights of his principal
Audi alteram partem. Hear the other side (i.e., Do not condemn a man unheard.)
Auegans contraria non est audiendus. One who contradicts himself is not to be heard.
Auotori incumbit onus proband. The onus of proof lies on the plaintiff.
B
Bello parta cedunt reipublicae. Things captured in war belong to State
Bis dat qui cito dat. He gives twice who gives quickly.
Boni judicis est lites dirimere ne lis ex lite. It is the duty of good judge to prevent litigation
Bonis non amovendis. That the goods be not removed
Breve judiciale non credit pro defectu formae. A judicial writ fails not through defect of form
By stander. One who stands near, a chance looker-on
C
Causa causans: Proximate cause
Causa falsa. Due to error
Causa non secuta. Failure of consideration
Causa proxima non remota spectatur. The immediate, not the remote cause, is to be considered
Causam nobis significes quare. A writ to a mayor of a town
Caveat emptor qui ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit.
Let a purchaser beware; no one ought in ignorance to buy that which is the right of another
Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware (who ought not to be ignorant what he buys from another)
Caveat venditor. Let the seller beware
Censor. One who examines publications, films and the like for objectionable content
Cessante causa, cessat effectus. When the cause ceases the effect ceases also
Cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex. The reason of the law being at an end, the law itself ceases. - Steele
Charta de non ente valet. A deed about a non-existent thing is not valid
Chose-in-action: An actionable claim
Civitas dei. Commonwealth of God
Civitas maxima. Community of civilised mankind
Civitas terrena. Mundane (worldly) commonwealth
Compossessio. Common possession Compulsa. A judicial attested copy of a testimonio
Conditio sine qua non. A condition without which the matter cannot be or Necessary condition
Consensus tollit errorem. Consent removes a mistake;
Consentientes et agentes pari poena plectentur. The abettor and the doer receive the same punishment
Corpus delicti. The body i.e. the gist of the offence
Corpus juris canonic. Canon law; law governing the Church possession of material object
Corpus possidendi Physical Culpa lata dole equiparatur. Gross negligence is equivalent to intentional wrong.
Cum confitente sponte, mitius est agendum. He who willingly confesses, should be dealt with more leniently. appointed by court to care for
Curator. A temporary guardian property or person of a minor
Custos morum. Custodian of marality
D
Damage feasant. To whom damage is done
Damnum sentit dominus. The Lord suffers the damage
Damnum sine injuria esse potest. All damages done is not wrongful
De bonis asportasis. Wrongful taking of goods ( in case of trespass)
Debite fundamentum fetill opus. When the foundation falls everything falls
Debitor non praesumitur donare. A debtor is not presumed to give.
Debitum et contractus sunt nullius loci. Debts and contracts are of no place
Deficiente uno non potest esse haeres.
There being no unity of blood, one cannot be heir
Delegata potestas non potest delegari. A delegate cannot further delegate
Delegatus non potest delegare. An agent cannot delegate his authority.
Delict. Wrong; tort
Deolo malo pactum se non servabit. A pact made with malicious intent will not be upheld
Dies inceptus pro complete habetur. A day begun is held as complete.
Dolosus versatur in generalibus. A deceiver deals in generalities
Dolus malus. Wrongdul intent
E
Ejus nulla culpa est cui parere necesse sit. He is not any fault who is bound to obey.
En ventre sa mere. Child in mother's womb
Ex aequo et bono. From fair and right
Ex dolo malo non oritur actio. An action do not arise from a fraud.
Ex facto jus oritur. The law becomes operative after the fact
Ex majori cantela. As a matter of abundant caution
Ex nihilo nihil fild. Nothing happens without cause
Ex pacto illicito non oritur action. No action arises out of an illicit bargain
Ex turpi caus non oritur actio. No action arises from an immoral cause {or base consideration).
Exceptio probat regulam. Exception proves the rule.
Executio juris non habet injuriam. The execution of the law works no injury.
F
Facts sunt potantiora verbis. Acts or deeds are more powerful than words
Falsus in uno falsus in omnibus. False in one thing false in all.
Fictio juris. Legal fiction
Fons juris. Sources of law
Fractionem diei non recipit lex. The law takes no note of a fraction of a day.
Fraus est celare fraudem. It is fraud to conceal fraud
Fraus est odiosa et non praessumenda. Fraud is hateful and not to be presumed
Fraus latet in generalibus. Fraud lies hid in general expression.
I
Ignorantia facti excusat: Ignorance of a fact is excused
Ignorantia juris haud excusat : Ignorance of the law is by no means an excuse.
Ignorantia juris non excusat: Ignorance of law is not excused
Impotentia excusat legem: Impotency excuses law In
Fictione juris semper acquitas existit: Equity is the life of a legal fiction
In judicio non creditur nisi juratis. In a trial only sworn witnesses are believed.
continetur. The part is contained in the whole
Infra etatem: Under age, not of age, applied to minors
Iniquum est aliquem rei sui ese judicem. It is improper for a person to be a judge in his own cause. -Ballentine
Injuria non excusat injuriam. Injury of one sort will not make another injury lawful
Injuria non praesumitur. Injury is not presumed
Injuria sine damno. An infringement of a legal private right without any actual loss or damage
Intentio caeaj mala. The secret intention is evil
Interest reipublicae, ut sit finis litium. It is to the advantage of the State that there should be a limit to lawsuits.
Intestate. To die without a will
Ius est ars boni et aequi. Law is the art of the good and the just
Judex est lex loquens. A judge is the law speaking
Judex non potest injuriam sibi datam ounire. A judge cannot punish a wrong done to himself
Judicis est jus dicere non dare. It is for the judge to administer, not to make the law.
Jura in aliena. Right in other's thing
Jura in personam. Right available against some determinate person or body
Jura in rem. Right against the whole world. (jura is plural of jus)
Jura in repropia. Right in one's own things
Juratores sunt judices facti. Juries are the judges of fact
Juris ignorantia est cum jus nostrum ignoramus. It is ignorance of the law when we do not know our own rights
Jus (jura) in personam. Right against particular person or persons.
Jus (jura) in re aliena. Right by encumbrance; a right over ones own property
Jus (jura) in rem. Right against all
Jus accrescendi. Right of survivorship
Jus ad rem. It is right to have some other right transferred.
Jus est ars boni et acqui. Law is the art of the good and the just
Jus ex injuria non oritur. A right cannot arise to any one out of his own wrong
Jus non scriptum. Unwritten law
Jus positivum. Positive law
Jus privatum. Private law
Jus publicum. Public law
Jus quod add actions partinet. The law of procedure is the law of actions
Jus respicit aequitatem. Law has regard to equity.
Jus speciale. Special law
Justitia naturalis. Natural justice
L
Lata culpa dolo aequiparatur: Gross negligence is equivalent to fraud
Lay off. A termination of the employment at the will of the employer
Leave and license (see volunti non fit injuria)
Lex aeterna Eternal law.
Lex aliquando sequitur aequitatem
Law sometimes follows equity.
Lex divina Divine law.
Lex domicilii Law of the territory where domiciled.
Lex humana Human law.
Lex injusta non est lex - Unjust law is no law.
Lex naturale - Natural law.
Lex nil facit frustra, nil jubet frustra
- The law does nothing in vain, commands nothing in vain. - Ballentine
Lex non cogit ad impossibilia - The law never urges to impossibilities.
Lex non favet votis delicatorum - The law does not encourage the will of the delicate.
Lex reprobate moram - The law dislikes delay.
Lex scripta Written law ; law deriving its force from usage.
Lex semper dabit remedium - Law will always afford remedy.
Lex semper intendit quod convenit rational. The law must be taken to intend what is reasonable.
Lex situs - Law of that territory where situated.
Lex uno ore omnes alloquitur. The law speaks to all with the same mouth.
Lex,loci The law of the place.
Libertes inestimabilis res est Liberty
Litera liges letter of the law
Litera scripta Expression of the law is an inestimable thing.
Loco parentas Any person standing in the relation of parents.
Locus regit actum -locality governs the act.
M
Malitia supplet aetatem. Malice makes up for want of age Malitia. Malice
Malus usus est abolendus. An evil custom ought to be abolislied.
Mansuetae natura. Not dangerous nature
Matrimonia debent esse libera. Marriage ought to be free
Minor jurare non potest. A minor cannot swear
Misdemeanor. Offences lower than fellows and generally punishable by fine; penalty
Modus legem dat donationi. Usage makes a gift lawful
N
Nam silent leges inter arma. Laws are silent in time of war.
Necessitas est lex tempris et loci. Necessity is the law of time and place
Necessitas non habet legem. Necessity has no law.
Necessitas quod cogit, defendit. Necessity defends what it compels
Necessitas vincit legem. Necessity defeats the law.
Neminem oportet esse sapientiorem legibus. It is not permitted to be wiser than law
Nemo agit in seipsum. No one takes proceedings against himself
Nemo contra factum suum venire potest. No one can go against his own deed.
Nemo dat quod non habet. No one can give what lie has not.
Nemo praesumitur malus. No one is presumed to be bad.
Nemo tenetur ad impossibile. No one is bound to an impossibility.
Novation. Substitute of a new contract
Novus homo. A man who has been pardoned of a crime
Nullum simile est lege. There is never complete identity
Null Um tempus aut locus occurrit Regi. No time or place affects the king.
O
Obedientia est legis essemtia
law.
Obedience is the essence of the
Obligation ex countractu (Roman) Obligation arising from quasi
contracts.
Optimus interpres rerum usus Usage is the best interpreter of things.
Optimus legume interpres es consuetudo interpreter of law.
Usage is the best
Over draft A cheque written on a checking account containing less funds than the amount of cheque.
P
Pactis privantorum juri public non derogatur Private contracts cannot derogate from public law.
Par delicatum Equal guilt.
Post factum: After the fact.
Presumption juris: Legal presumptions.
Pro haec vice:For the occasion.
Pro re nata: In respect of themselves.
Pro tempore: Temporarily.
Pro tenta: In effect.
Propria persona: Proprietary concern.
Proprio Vigore: Of its own force; by its own force; automatically.
Qui jure suo utitur nemini facit injuriam. He who acts legally hurts no one.
Qui minimum probat nihil probat. He proves nothing who proves too much.
Regle de droit. Rule of law
R
Res in re propria. Right of a man's own property
Res perit suo domino. A thing lost is lost to its owner S
Rex non potest Peccare. The king can do no wrong
Ratio est anima legis. The reason for the law is the soul of law
S
Salus populi est suprema lex. The public safety is the supreme law.
Scire debes cum quo contrabis. One should know with whom he contracts.
Scribere est agere. To write is the same thing as to act.
Senso abstracto. Abstract sense
Sensu concreto. Concrete sense Spondes peritiam artis
Strict sensu. Strict sense Strictum jus. Strict law
Summun bonum. The gist
Suo periculo. By own risk
T, U, V & W
Testis nemo in sua causa esse potest. No one can be a witness on his own behalf.
Tortum. Tort, means "to wist", i.e. the conduct which is twisted or tortious
Tota curia. In the old reports, the whole court
Traditio loqui chartam facit. Delivery makes a deed speak.
Traditio. Delivery of possession
Transit terra cum onere. Land passes with its burden.
Trespass quare clausum freigit. Tress pass to land.
Ultimas ratio. Ultimate legal principle
Unum est tacere, aliud celare. To be silent or to conceal are two different things.
Valeat quantum it can have effect.
valeat potest. Let it have effect to such extent as
Valentia . the value or price of anything
Veritas demonstrationis tollit errorem nominis . Correctness of description cures error of name.
Vested estate. An interest clothed with a present, legal and existing right of alienation
Vetus jus. A term used in civil law.
Vetustas pro lege semper habetur. An old custom is ever regarded as law.
Vex. To harass or annoy by repeated litigation upon the same facts
Vice crimes. Crimes of immoral conduct such as prostitution
Vide. A word of reference
Viet armis. Now abolished
Vinculum juris. Bond of legal necessity
Vindex. In the civil law, a defender
Vindicate. To clear of suspicion, blame or doubt
Viperina est expositio quae corrodit viscera textus. It is a bad exposition which corrupts the next
Vir et uxor censentur in lege una persona. Husband and wife are considered one person in law
Vis legibus est inimica. Force or violence is the enemy of law
Vis major. An overwhelming, unanticipated, and unpreventable event, usually caused by a natural force, the occurrence of which may exempt a party from performing the obligations of a contract.
Also called force majeure.
Vis-a-vis. With the living voice, by word of mouth
Volenti non fit injuria. No injury can be done to a willing person.
Volks geist. Normal spirit
Volonte generale. General will
