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Latin Terms

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Glossary
Latin Terms

                    A:

ACTUS REUS: Guilty Act - The offence committed by a defendant.

AD COLLIGENDA BONA: To collect the goods: A temporary order for the administration of a deceased Individual’s estate when the estate is of a perishable nature.

AD HOC: For this purpose -A decision made when a situation demands it

AD HOC COMMITTEES: - Formed to address a specific issue.

AD HOC MEETINGS: – A Meeting to discuss a specific matter that has arisen.

AD IDEM: Of same mind -When all parties agree on a specific area.

AD INFINITUM: Without limit - Describes an event that has no clear ending.

AD LITEM: For the suit - A temporary appointment that continues through a legal procedure i.e. a court appointed guardian during a legal case is ‘Ad Litem’

AMICUS CURIAE: friend of the court - A neutral party who does not represent any specific individual but will provide views from an independent viewpoint.

ANTE: Before - A phrase in text that refers to a previous statement.

                    B:

BONA FIDE: In good faith - A genuine agreement with no element of fraud.

BONA VACANTIA: Denotes the absence of any known person entitled to the estate of a deceased individual.

                    C:

CAVEAT: Beware / take care – An entry in the court records that prevents action by another party without consulting the initial party mentioned in the records.

COMPOS MENTIS: Of sound mind – Legally fit to conduct / defend proceedings.

COR (CORAM): In the presence of – When the individual being discussed is present.

                    D:

DE BONIS NON ADMINISTRATIS: Of goods not administered – A person appointed to administer an estate following the death of the original administrator.

DE FACTO: In Fact – As a matter of fact.

DE JURE: By right – Has the right to do so.

DOLI INCAPAX: Incapable of crime for a given reason.

DUCES TECUM: Bring with you – Order demanding that a document be brought to court.

                    E:

ERRATUM: An error Exempli Gratia: For example (E.G.) – Used when explaining an idea through a relevant example.

EX GRATIA: As a matter of favour – In terms of payment, ‘ex gratia’ refers to that which is given without any acceptance of guilt or blame.

EX OFFICIO: By virtue of his office – An member of the court (e.g. Magistrate) present in court when their services are not going to be needed.
EX PARTE: By a party – An ex parte application is made to the Court during by one party without informing the other relevant parties.

EX POST FACTO: By a subsequent act – Something that occurs after an event in question but that still has relevance.

                    F:

FORUM CONVENIENS: At a convenient place – The court that owns jurisdiction in a particular case.

FUNCTUS OFFICIO: Having discharged duty – A judicial or official individual prevented from taking part in a matter due to certain regulations, e.g. a judge will be ‘functus officio’ if the case involves their kin.

                    H:

HABEAS CORPUS: Produce the body – A writ directing a person to produce someone held in custody before the court, i.e. the defendant.

                    I:

IBID: In the same place – Used in text to refer to a page previously mentioned (see ante)

ID EST (I.E.): That is to say – Used for description of a statement.

IGNORANTIA JURIS NON EXCUSAT: Ignorance of the law is no excuse – If committing an offence an individual cannot claim they were ignorant to the law. It is presumed that all know the difference between right and wrong.

IN CAMERA: In the chamber – The hearing of a case in private where no details are put into the public sphere.

IN CURIA: In open court – The hearing of a case in front of a public court.

IN PERSONAM: Against the person – Proceedings issued against or with reference to a specific person or employment type – admiralty action refers to the owner of a ship.

IN RE: In the matter of – The heading in legal documents that details the title of proceedings.

IN REM: Against the matter – Proceedings aimed at against property rather than any given individual.

INTER ALIA: Among other things – Indicates that the details being discussed are an extract of the whole issue.

INTRA VIRES: Within the power of – An act that falls within the jurisdiction of the Court.

IPSO FACTO: By the fact – The reliance upon facts that prove a particular point, e.g. the broken leg that proves the accident.

                    L:

LOCUS IN QUO: The place in which – The area of areas in which an incident took place.

                    M:

MENS REA: Guilty mind – When a defendant knows that their actions are breaking the law.

MUTATIS MUTANDIS: The necessary changes being made – Means that an instruction should not be followed completely, but changed where necessary.

                    N:

NON COMPOS MENTIS: Not sound in mind – Someone unfit to take action in legal proceedings, can refer to either defendant or claimant.
NOTA BENE (NB): Note well – An abbreviation indicating that a particular point or article is important.

NULLA BONA: No effects – An indication made to the court that a defendant has no possessions of value to be relieved of.

                    O:

OBITER DICTUM: A saying by the way – Words said by a judge that refer to law but should not be acknowledged within a case as evidence or judgement.

                    P:

PER: As stated by Per Capita: By heads – A unit of measurement, ‘the meal cost £5 per head’ or ‘the meal cost £5 per capita.’

PER PRO (PP): Through another – A person delegated to act on behalf of another.

PER SE: By itself – States that an idea or piece of evidence should be taken and judged on its own.

POST: After – The opposite to ‘ante.’ To refer to something later on in text or proceedings.

PRIMA FACIE: First sight – Prima Facie evidence is that which proves a case – if no Prima Facie evidence is given then there is no case to begin with.

PRO FORMA: A matter of form – Pro Forma procedure is performed to seek, or satisfy, minimum requirements.

PRO RATA: In proportion – Dividends distributed on a Pro Rata basis would be according to the amount of investment.

PRO TEMPORE: For the time being – Temporarily.

                    Q:

QUASI: As if – any person exercising powers similar to those of a judge would be sitting ‘Quasi-Judicial’ capacity.

                    R:

RATIO DECIDENI: - The principle – rules – of law by which all judicial decisions are made.

RES JUDICATA: A thing ajudged – Once a case has been finally decided upon by a Court, the same case cannot be raised during further proceedings.

RES IPSA LOQUITUR: The thing speaks for itself – An event that would not require demonstration of proof because of the obvious nature of guilt.

                    S:

SEMBLE: Its appears.

SINE DIE: Without a day – A hearing adjourned that has no definite further hearing allocated.

SUB JUDICE: In the course of trial – Whilst a case is under consideration its details cannot be disclosed – they are ‘Sub Judice’.

SUBPOENA AD TESTIFICUM: To produce evidence – a writ directed to an individual demanding his/her presence in Court to give evidence.

                    U:

ULTRA VIRES: Beyond the power – An act that falls outside the jurisdiction of the court.

                    V:

VIDELICET (VIZ): Namely – Used in text to indicate examples.

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