Saturday, November 13, 2010

Good to know Legal Maxims

Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt - The laws serve the vigilant, not those who sleep. 

Verbatim - Word by word, exactly.

Ubi non est principalis, non potest esse accessorius - Where there is no principal, there can be no accessory. 

Stare decisis - To stand by decisions (precedents).

Salus populi est suprema lex - The welfare of the people is the supreme law.

Qui sentit commodum, debet et sentire onus - He who derives a benefit ought also to bear a burden. 

Qui peccat ebrius, luat sobrius - He who does wrong when drunk must be punished when sober. 

Prima facie - On the face of it.

Partus sequitur ventrem - The offspring follows the mother.

Nemo bis punitur pro eodem delicto - No one can be twice punished for the same offence. 

Mala in se - Bad in themselves.

Mala prohibita - Crimes prohibited. 

Lex prospicit not respicit - The law looks forwared, not backward.

Ipso facto - By that very fact. 

Inter alia - Amongst other things.

In personam - Against the person.

In omnibus - In every respect.

In delicto - At fault.

Domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium - Every man s house is his safest refuge.

De jure - Rightful, by right. 

De facto - In fact.

Bona fide - Sincere, in good faith

Ad hoc - For this purpose.

Ab initio - From the beginning.


A Selection of Legal Maxims, Classified and Illustrated. Eighth American, from the Fifth London Edition, with References to American Cases.

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