Latin maxims- articulate the principled foundations on which the law is built. Each is a time-tested, ancient treasure of Roman law which not only embellish as much the common law as the civil law, but rightfully shape, mold and intellectually structure and ground lawyers, from their first day of law school to the last law journal they read in retirement.

Ab Absurdo

Latin: an evidentiary suggestion or statutory interpretation that is, or leads to, an absurdity.

Aberratio Ictus

Latin: the accidental harm to a person; e.g. perpetrator aims at X but by chance or lack of skill hits Y.

Ab Initio

Latin: from the start; from the beginning.

Accusare Nemo Se Debet Nisi Coram Deo

Latin: no man is obliged to accusehimself except before God.

Acta Exteriora Indicant Interiora Secreta

Latin: The outward acts show the secret intentions.

Actio Personalis Moritur Cum Persona

Latin: any right of action dies with the person.

Actus Curiae Neminem Gravabit

Latin: An act of the court shall prejudice no one.

Actus Dei Nemini Facit Injuriam

Latin: An act of God causes legal injury to no one.

Actus Regis Nemini Est Damnosa

Latin: The law will not work a wrong.

Actus Reus

Latin: a prohibited act.

Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

Latin: conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent.

Ad Colligendum Bona

Latin: for the collection of the goods of the deceased.

Ad Damnum

Latin: to the damage.

Ad Hoc

Latin: limited in time; to this point.

Ad Infinitum

Latin: forever; without limit; indefinitely.

Ad Litem

Latin: for the suit.

Ad Proximum Antecedens Fiat Relatio Nisi Impediatur Sententia

Latin: relative words must ordinarily be referred to the last antecedent, the last antecedent being the last word which can be made an antecedent so as to give a meaning.

Ad Quaestionem Facti Non Respondent Judices, Ad Quaestionem Juris Non Respondent Juratores

Latin: The judge instructs on points of law and the jury decides matters of fact.

Aequum et bonum

Latin: what is right and just..

A fortiori

Latin: with all the more force.

Agnatio

Latin: members of a group having a common male ancestor.

Alea jacta est

Latin: the die is cast.

Alia Enormia

Latin: The catch-all phrase in trespass pleadings to refer to all such other harms and damages that may have been caused by the alleged trespasser other than those specified.

Alibi

A defence to a criminal charge to the effect that the accused was elsewhere than at the scene of the alleged crime.

Alieni juris

Latin: under the legal authority of another.

Aliunde

Latin: otherwise.

Amicus Curiae

Latin: friend of the court.

Animus

Latin: intention.

Animus Contrahendi

Latin: an intention to contract.

Animus Furandi

Latin: an intent to do wrong.

Argumentum Ab Inconvenienti Plurimum Valet In Lege

Latin: An argument drawn from inconvenience is forcible in law.

Audi Alteram Partem

Latin; literally 'hear the other side'.

Audita Querela

An application to a court after judgment seeking to avoid execution of that judgment because of some event intervening between judgment and execution which compromises the judgment creditor's entitlement to execution.

A Vinculo Matrimonii

Latin: of marriage.

Avunculus

Latin: a mother's brother.

Bona Fide

Latin: good faith.

Bona Vacantia

Property that belongs to no person, and which may be claimed by a finder.

Boni Judicis Est Ampliare Jurisdictionem

Latin: good justice is broad jurisdiction.

Bonus pater familias

Latin: the good family man.

Casus Foederis

Latin: treaty event.

Causa Causans

The real, effective cause of damage.

Causa Proxima Et Non Remota Spectatur

Latin: the immediate, not the remote cause, is to be considered.

Causa Sine Qua Non

An intervening cause of loss which, though not direct, may nonetheless contribute to the loss.

Caveat

Latin: let him beware. A formal warning.

Caveat Emptor

Latin: buyer beware.

Certiorari

A formal request to a court challenging a legal decision of an administrative tribunal, judicial office or organization (eg. government) alleging that the decision has been irregular or incomplete or if there has been an error of law.

Cessante Ratione Legis, Cessat Ipsa Lex

Latin: The reason for a law ceasing, the law itself ceases.

Cestui Que Trust or Cestui Que Use

Latin: the beneficiary of a trust.

Ceteris Paribus

Latin: all things being equal or unchanged.

Comitatus

Latin: a contract of personal services between a land lord and his men.

Commodum Ex Injuria Sua Nemo Habere Debet

Latin: a wrongdoer should not be enabled by law to take any advantage from his actions.

Commorientes

Two or more persons dying at about the same time, usually in the same event, but in circumstances in which it is impossible to determine the order of death.

Communis Error Facit Jus

Latin: Common error makes right.

Consensus

A decision achieved through negotiation whereby a hybrid resolution is arrived on an issue, dispute or disagreement, comprising typically of concessions made by all parties, and to which all parties then subscribe unanimously as an acceptable resolution.

Consensus Ad Idem

Latin: a meeting of the minds.

Consensus Tollit Errorem

Latin: Consent obviates errors in the course of judicial proceedings.

Consortium

Companionship, love and affection and intimacy between husband and wife within a mariage.

Consuetudo Volentes Ducit, Lex Nolentes Trahit

Customs leads the willing, law drags the unwilling.

Contemporanea Expositio

That the meaning of words in a document are to be understood in the sense which they bore at the time of the document.

Corpus Delicti

Latin: the body of the offense.

Crimen Omnia Ex Se Nata Vitiat

Latin: property obtained by crime is tainted (vitiated).

Cuicunque Aliquis Quid Concedit Concedere Videtur Et Id Sine Quo Res Ipsa Esse Non Poluit

Latin: Whoever grants a thing is supposed also tacitly to grant that without which the grant itself would be of no effect.

Cuius Est Solum Ejus Est Usque Ad Caelum

Latin: whose is the soil, his it is even to the skies and to the depths below.

Cuius Est Solum Ejus Est Usque Ad Coelum Et Ad Inferos

Latin: for whoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to heaven and down to hell.

Cujus Est Commodum Ejus Debet Esse Incommodum

Latin: Whose is the advantage, his also should be the disadvantage.

Culpa Lata

Latin: gross negligence.

Cursus Curiae Est Lex Curiae

Latin: The practice of the court is the law of the court.

Custodia Legis

In the custody of the law; the taking, seizing or holding of something by lawful authority.

Damnum Absque Injuria

Latin: harm absent a wrong.

Damnum Injuria Datum

Latin: wrongful injury to the property of another.

De Bene Esse

To take something for what it is worth, such as evidence collected for the time being, in the absence of, but in anticipation of, litigation, admissibility to be determined when such thing is sought to be used against another at trial.

De Bonis Non

Latin: assets not yet administered.

Decree Nisi

A provisional decision of a court which does not have force or effect until a certain condition is met such as another petition brought before the court or after the passage of a period time.

Dedimus Potestatem de Attornato Faciendo

Latin: to substitute an attorney.

De Facto

Latin: in fact.

De Fide et Officio Judicis non Recipitur Quaestio, sed de Scientia Sive sit Eror Juris sive Facti

Latin: The bona fides and honesty of purpose of a judge cannot be questioned, but his decision may be impugned for error of law or of fact.

De injuria sua propria absque tali causa

Latin: of his own wrong (or injury) without any other cause.

De Jure

Latin: of the law.

Delegatus Non Potest Delegare

Latin: a delegate cannot delegate.

Delict

A civil law term which imposes liability on a person who causes injury to another, or for injury caused by a person or thing under his custody.

De Minimis Non Curat Lex

Latin: a common law principle whereby judges will not sit in judgment of extremely minor transgressions of the law.

De Non Apparentibus Et De Non Existentibus Eadem Est Ratio

Latin: What is not juridically presented cannot be judicially decided.

De Non Sane Memorie

Latin: of insane memory.

De Novo

Latin: new.

Dicta or Dictum

Latin: saying.

Dies Dominicus Non Est Juridicus

Latin: Sunday is not a day for judicial or legal proceedings.

Divorce a Mensa et Thoro

An obselete form of divorce order which did not end the marriage but allowed the parties to reside separate; in effect, a legal or judicially-sanctioned separation of two married persons.

Dolus Eventualis

Awareness of the likely outcome of an action.

Dominion Utile

Latin: the property rights of a tenant; exclusive right to use a thing

Dominium Directum

Latin: qualified ownership of a land: not having possession or use of property but retaining ownership.

Domitae Naturae

Animals which are of a nature easily tamed and may be readily domesticated.

Domus Sua Cuique Est Tutissimum Refugium

Latin: Every man's house is his refuge.

Donatio Mortis Causa

A death-bed gift, made by a dying person, with the intent that the person receiving the gift shall keep the thing if death ensues.

Duces Tecum

Latin: bring with you.

Dum Casta

Latin: for so long as she remains chaste.

Dum Sola

Latin: for so long as she remains unmarried.

Dum Sola et Casta Vixerit

Latin: for so long as she remains single (unmarried) and chaste.

Dum Vidua

Latin: for so long as she remains a widow.

Ejusdem or Eiusdem Generis

Of the same kind or nature.

Emptio or Emtio

Latin for 'purchase' or referring to the contract in which something is bought.

En banc

(French) As a full bench.

Error In Objecto

A mistake by a perpetrator as to the identity of the victim; an error as to the object of his act.

Erunt animae duae in carne una

Latin: two souls in one flesh.

Et. al.

Latin: and others.

Et Impotentia Excusat Legem

The law excuses someone from doing the impossible.

Ex Aequo Et Bono

Latin: in justice and fairness.

Exceptio Non Adimpleti Contractus

Latin: exception of a non-performed contract.

Ex Debito Justitiae

Latin: as of right.

Executio Juris Non Habet Injuriam

Latin: The execution of the law does no injury.

Ex Juris

Latin: outside of the jurisdiction.

Ex officio

Latin: by virtue of office.

Exordium

Latin: introduction.

Ex Parte

Latin: outside the awareness of a party; for one party only.

Ex Patriate

A person who has abandoned his or her country of origin and citizenship and has become a subject or citizen of another country.

Ex Post Facto

Latin: after the fact.

Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius

Latin: the expression of one thing is the exclusion of the other.

Ex Rel

Latin: on the relation of, or the information of.

Ex Turpi Causa Non Oritur Actio

Latin: Of an illegal cause there can be no lawsuit.

Falsa Demonstratio Non Nacet

A wrong description of an item in a legal document (such as a will) will not necessarily void the gift if it can be determined from other facts.

Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum

Latin: do justice though the heavens fall.

Fieri Facias

Latin: that you cause to be made. Mostly used to refer to a writ of judgment enforcement obtained under the old common law of England.

Functus Officio

Latin: an officer or agency whose mandate has expired either because of the arrival of an expiry date or because an agency has accomplished the purpose for which it was created.

Furiosi Nulla Voluntas Est

Latin: mentally impaired persons cannot validly sign a commit their will.

Furtum

Latin: theft or a thing stolen..

Habeas Corpus

Latin: a court petition which orders that a person being detained be produced before a judge for a hearing to decide whether the detention is lawful.

Hereditas

Latin: the estate of a deceased person.

Hereditas Damnosa

Latin: an inheritance that is more of a burden than a benefit.

Hereditas Jacens

Latin: an unclaimed estate.

Hostis Humani Generis

Latin: the enemy of mankind.

Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

Latin: ignorance of the law is no excuse.

In Absentia

Latin: in the absence of.

In Camera

A closed and private session of Court or some other deliberating body.

In Fictione Juris Semper Aequitas Existit

Latin: With legal fictions, equity always exists.

In haec verba

Latin: verbatim.

In Jure Non Remota Causa Sed Proxima Spectatur

Latin: In law the near cause is looked to, not the remote one.

In Limine

Latin: at the beginning or on the threshold.

In Loco Parentis

A person who, though not the natural parent, has acted as a parent to a child and may thus be liable to legal obligations as if he/she were a natural parent.

In Pari Delicto

Latin: both parties are equally at fault.

In Personam

Latin: regarding a person; a right, action, judgment or entitlement that is attached to a specific person(s).

In Rem

Latin: regarding a thing; proprietary in nature; a right or judgment related to the use or ownership of an item of property.

Inter Alia

Latin: 'among other things', 'for example' or 'including'.

Interest Reipublicae Ut Sit Finis Litium

Latin: in the interest of society as a whole, litigation must come to an end.

Inter Partes

Latin: between, among parties.

Interpretatio Cessat in Claris

Latin: Interpretation stops when a text is clear.

In Terrorem

Latin: in terror, fright, threat or warning.

Inter Se

Latin: as between or amongst themselves.

Inter Vivos

Latin: from one living person to another living person.

In tota fine erga omnes et omnia

Latin: for all purposes, in regards to all and everything.

In Toto

Latin: in total.

Intuitu Personae

Latin: Because of the person.

Ipso facto

Latin: By the act itself.

Ipso jure

Latin: by operation of law.

J. D.

Abbreviation for juris doctor or doctor of jurisprudence and the formal name given to the university law degree in the United States.

Judex

A form of judge in early Roman law.

Jura Regalia

Rights which belong to the Crown or to the Government.

Jurat

The written certification by a judicial officer that a deponent or affiant recognizes and endorses all parts of an affidavit he or she proposes to sign, and confirms that an oath has been administered in this regard to the affiant.

Jure

Latin: by right, under legal authority.

Jure Coronae

A right of the Crown.

Juris Utriusque Doctor

Latin: a combined law degree, in both civil and canon law.

Jus

Latin: the law or a legal right.

Jus Ad Bellum

Latin: the legal authority to wage war.

Jus Cogens

Latin: peremptory law.

Jus Detractus

Latin: The right to deduct.

Jus Disponendi

Latin: The right to dispose of a thing.

Jus Dispositivum

Law adopted by consent.

Jus Ex Injuria Non Oritur

Latin: a legal right or entitlement cannot arise from an unlawful act or omission.

Jus Publicum

Latin: legal rights enjoyed by all citizens; more recently used in reference to the right of the public to access shorelines for fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing and other related purposes.

Jus Spatiandi Et Manendi

Latin: the right to stray and remain.

Justiciar

An obsolete judicial position of English nobility; that of chief justice of the realm.

Jus Vitae Necisque

Latin: Power of life and death.

Leges Posteriores Priores Contrarias Abrogant

Latin: Later laws abrogate prior contrary laws.

Lex Causae

Latin; law of the cause.

Lex Fori

Latin for the law of the forum.

Lex Loci Contractus

Latin: the law of the place where the contract is made.

Lex Loci Delecti

Latin: the place of the wrong.

Lex Non Cogit Ad Impossibilia

Latin: The law does not compel a man to do that which is impossible.

Lex Non Scripta

Unwritten law; the common or custom law.

lex non scripta, diuturni mores consensus utensium comprobati

Latin: Law derived from custom must be firmly entrenched in practice and adopted and followed by tradition.

Lex Scripta

Written law; statutes.

Lex Situs

A conflict of law rule that selects the applicable law based on the venue or location of something.

Lis Pendens

Latin: a dispute or matter which is the subject of ongoing or pending litigation.

Locus

Latin: the place; venue.

Locus Regit Actum

Latin: The law of the place where the facts occurred.

Locus Standi

Latin: legal standing before a court.

Lubricum Linquae Non Facile Trahendum Est In Poena

Latin: the law tends to overlook rash or inconsiderate language spoken in the heat of the moment.

Mala Fides

Latin: bad faith.

Malum in se

Latin: something wrong in itself.

Malum prohibitum

Latin: wrong because prohibited.

Mandamus

A writ which commands an individual, organization (eg. government), administrative tribunal or court to perform a certain action, usually to correct a prior illegal action or a failure to act in the first place.

Mansuetae Naturae

Latin: animals which are now generally domestic, presumed gentle and readily tamed, such as dogs, cats, cows and horses.

Mea Culpa

Latin: I am guilty.

Melius Est Petere Fontes Quam Sectari Rivulos

Latin: it is better to seek the sources than to follow the tributaries.

Mens Rea

Latin for guilty mind; guilty knowledge or intention to commit a prohibited act.

Mobilia Sequuntur Personam, Immobilia Situa

Latin: movables follow the person, immovables their locality.

Modus Operandi

Latin: method of operation.

Mortis Omnia Solvit

Latin: Death puts an end to everything.

Mutatis Mutandis

Latin: with changes on points of detail.

Necessitas Indicit Privilegium Quoad Jura Privata

From necessity spring privileges upon private rights.

Nemo Debet Bis Vexari Pro Una Et Eadem Causa

Latin: No-one shall be tried or punished twice in regards to the same event.

Nemo Debet Locupletari Ex Aliena Jactura

Latin: no one should be enriched by another's loss.

Nemo Judex In Parte Sua

Latin: no person can judge a case in which he or she is party or in which he/she has an interest.

Nemo Patriam In Qua Natus Est Exuere, Nec Ligeantiae Debitum Ejurare Possit

Latin: No one can renounce the country in which he was born nor the bond of allegiance.

nimia subtilitas in jure reprobatur, et talis certitudo certitudinem Confundit

Latin: too much subtlety in law is condemned, and so much certainty confounds certainty.

Nisi Prius

Latin: unless, before. More commonly, a civil jury trial.

Nolle Prosequi

Latin: no prosecution.

Nolo Contendere

Latin: I will not defend.

Non Compos Mentis

Latin: Not of sound mind.

Non Est Factum

Latin: not his deed.

Non Potest Adduci Exceptio Ejusdem Rei Cujus Petitur Dissolutio

Latin: A plea of a matter sought from a court, cannot be contradicted by the same litigant.

Non Potest Rex Gratiam Facere Cum Injuria Et Damno Aliorum

The king cannot confer a favor on one subject which occasions injury and loss to others.

Non Sequitur

Latin: it does not follow.

Noscitur a sociis

Latin: that the meaning of a word may be known from accompanying words.

Nota Bene

Latin: note well.

Nova Constitutio Futuris Formam Imponere Debet, Non Praeteritis

Latin: a new law ought to be construed to interfere as little as possible with vested rights.

Nudum Pactum

Latin: an empty pact; a contract for which there is no consideration.

Nullum Tempus Occurit Regi

Latin: time does not run against the King.

Nunc Pro Tunc

Latin: deemed retroactive.

Nuptias non concubitus sed consensus facit.

Latin: consent, not physical intercourse, constitutes marriage.

Obiter Dictum

Latin: an observation by a judge on a matter not specifically before the court or not necessary in determining the issue before the court.

Omne Majus Continet In Se Minus

Latin: The greater contains the less.

Omnia praesumuntur contra spoliatorem

Latin: All things are presumed against the individual who destroys evidence.

Omnis Innovatio Plus Novitate Perturbat Quam Utilitate Prodest

Latin: The disturbance resulting from an innovation is so great an evil as to outweigh any benefit that might arise from it.

Onus

Latin: the burden.

Pacta Sunt Servanda

Latin: agreements must be kept.

Parens Patriae

Latin: literally, father of the country. Refers to the inherent jurisdiction of the courts to make decisions concerning people who are not able to take care of themselves.

Pari Delicto

Latin: of equal fault.

Pari Passu

Latin: Equitably and without preference.

Pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant

Latin: The father is he who is married to the mother.

Patrocinium

A contract under Roman law where a man agrees to be another's servant in exchange for food and shelter.

Peccatum illud horribile, inter Christianos non nominandum

Latin: that horrible crime not to be named among Christians.

Pendente Lite

Latin: during litigation.

Per Capita

Latin: by the head.

Per Curiam

Latin: on behalf of the court.

Per Incuriam

Latin: through want of care.

Per Infortunium

Latin: by misadventure.

Per Quod Consortium Amisit

Latin: whereby he loses the company of his wife.

Per Se

Latin: of itself.

Per Stirpes

Latin: by the plant.

Pia Causa

Latin: charitable purposes.

Piracy Jure Gentium

Piracy according to the law of nations.

Plene Administravit

Latin for administration (is) complete.

Præcipe or Precipe

Latin: an initiating document presented to a court clerk to be officially issued on behalf of the court or a the covering memo or letter from the lawyer (or plaintiff) which accompanies and formally asks for the writ to be issued by the court officer.

Praemunire

An offence initially to prefer the Pope or his authority as against the King of England or Parliament, but later included a wide assortment of offenses against the King and always leading to serious penalties.

Precarium

Latin: the giving of land as a reward or to secure a debt.

Prima Facie

(Latin) A legal presumption which means on the face of it or at first sight.

Pro Bono

Latin: for the good.

Pro Forma

Latin: for the sake of form.

Pro jure patrio stamus

Latin: we will defend our rights.

Pro Possessore

Latin: a person who holds something only as possessor, not necessarily as owner.

Pro Possessore Habetur Qui Dolo Injuriave

Latin: he whose possession is taken away by fraud or injury will be deemed to continue to possess.

Proprio Motu

Latin: of one's own initiative.

Pro Rata

Latin: to divide proportionate to a certain rate or interest.

Pro Se

Latin: on one’s own behalf.

Pro Socio

Latin: on behalf of a partnership.

Pro Tempore

Latin: something done temporarily only and not intended to be permanent.

Quaere

Latin for "query" as in an issue on which some doubt or question exists.

Quaestor

In ancient Roman law, senior legal advisor.

Quam legem exteri nobis posuere, eandem illis ponemus

Latin: What law is imposed by foreign powers on our merchants, we will impose on their's.

Quando Jus Domini Regis Et Subditi Concurrunt, Jus Regis Praeferri Debet

Latin: When the right of the sovereign and that of a subject conflict, the right of the sovereign is to be preferred.

Quantum

Latin: amount or extent.

Quantum Meruit

Latin: as much as is deserved.

Quia Emptores

A 1290 English statute that held that notwithstanding the subdivision (subinfeudation) of a feeholding; the new tenant owed feudal rights and obligations not to the seller but to the Land Lord.

Quicquid Plantatur Solo, Solo Cedit

Latin: whatever is planted in the ground, belongs to the ground.

Quid Pro Quo

Latin: something for something.

Qui Facit Per Alium Facit Per Se

Latin: he who acts through another, acts himself.

Qui Jure Suo Utitur Neminem Facit Injuriam

Latin: he who exercises his legal rights harms no one.

Qui Jussu Judicis Aliquod Fecerit, Non Videtur Dolo Malo Fecisse, Quia Parere Necesse Est

Latin: One who does a wrongful act by order of a Court having jurisdiction, is not liable in tort, because he must obey the law.

Qui Non Obstat Quod Obstare Potest, Facere Videtur

Latin: an individual who does not prevent something which he/she could of prevented, is taken to have done that thing.

Qui Prior Est Tempore, Potior Est Jure

Latin: he who is earlier in time is stronger in law.

Qui Tam

Latin: who as well.

Quod Ab Initio Non Valet In Tractu Temporis Non Convalesait

Latin: That which was originally void does not by lapse of time become valid.

Quod Remedio Destituitur Ipsa Re Valet, Si Culpa Absit

Latin: That which is without a remedy is valid by the thing itself, if there be no fault.

Quorum

The minimum number of voting members that must be in attendance at a meeting of an organization for that meeting to be regularly constituted.

Quo Warranto

Latin: legal procedure taken to stop a person or organization from doing something for which it may not have the legal authority, by demanding to know by what right they exercise the controversial authority.

Rapina

Latin: to take away forcefully.

Ratio Decidendi

Latin: reasons for a decision.

Ratione Loci

Latin: by reason of the place.

Ratione Personae

Latin: by reason of his person.

Ratione Soli

Latin: In relation to territory, land.

Rebus Sic Stantibus

Latin: changed circumstances.

Reddendum

Latin: that part of a lease which sets out the amount of rent and when it is payable.

Remanet

Latin: an action that has been put over, deferred to a later time.

Res Derelicta

Latin: a thing abandoned.

Res Gestae

Latin: things done.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

Latin: the thing speaks for itself.

Res Judicata

Latin: already subject to judicial determination.

Res Noviter Veniens Ad Notitiam

Latin: Fact(s) newly coming to knowledge.

Respondeat superior

Latin: let the principal answer.

Restitutio In Integrum

Latin: restitution to the original position.

Retraxit

Latin: a withdrawal of a legal action.

Rex Debet Esse Sub Lege, Quia Lex Facit Regem

The king should be subject to the law for the law makes the king.

Rex Non Potest Peccare

Latin: the king can do no wrong.

Rex Nunquam Moritur

Latin: the king never dies.

Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex

Latin: the welfare of an individual yields to that of the community.

Scaccarium

Latin: chess game but in English law, the exchequer, usually in reference to the Court of Exchequer.

Scienter

Latin: actual or guilty knowledge; knowingly.

Scintilla Juris

Latin: a spark of legal right.

Se Defendendo

Latin: self-defence.

Sic Utera Tuo Ut Alienam Non Laedas

Latin: use your property in such a fashion so as to not disturb others.

Sine Die

Latin: without a day. Taken to mean without fixing a day for continuation.

Sine Qua Non

Latin: without which, not.

Situs

Latin: location.

Stare Decisis

Latin: stay with what has been decided.

Statuta Suo Clauduntur Territorio, Nec Ultra Territorium Disponunt

Statutes are confined to their own territory and have no extra-territorial effect.

Statutes in Pari Materia

Statutes sharing a common purpose or relating to the same subject and which are construed together.

Strictissimi Juris

Latin: the strictest letter of the law.

Sub Judice

Latin: under judicial consideration.

Subpoena

Latin: an order of a court which requires a person to be present at a certain time and place or suffer a penalty (subpoena means, literally, under penalty).

Sui Generis

Latin: of its own kind.

Sui Juris

Latin: one's own law; having full capacity.

Summa Ratio Est Quae Pro Religione Facit

Latin: The best rule is that which advances religion.

Tenendum

Latin: to be held. In law, that part of a contract in which an interest in real property is created that sets out the extent or limitations of that interest.

Tractatus de legibus et consuetudinibus regni Angliae

1188 statement of English common law.

Transit In Rem Judicatam

Latin: The cause of action is changed into matter of record, which is of a higher nature, and the inferior remedy is merged in the higher.

Uberrimae Fidei

Latin: of the utmost good faith.

Ubi Eadem Ratio, Ibi Idem Jus

Latin: Where there is the same reason, there is the same law

Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium

Latin: For every wrong, the law provides a remedy.

Ubi scelus est id, quod non prosicit scire, jubemus (insurgere) leges, armari jura gladio ultore, ut exquisitis poenis subdantur infames, qui sunt, vel qui futuri sunt rei

Latin: Where that infamy exists,which ought not to be known, we commend the laws to be enforced and the authorities be armed with the avenging sword, that those infamous wretches may be overwhelmed with the severest punishment, who are, or shall be guilty of this crime.

Ultra Petita

Latin: beyond that which is sought.

Ultra Vires

Latin: beyond the powers.

Use

Latin: trust.

Usufruct

The rights to the product of another's property.

Usury

Excessive or illegal interest rate.

Utile Per Inutile Non Vitiatur

Latin: That which is useful is not vitiated by that which is useless.

Ut Res Magis Valeat Quam Pereat

Latin: It is better for a thing to have effect than to be made void.

Vacatur

Latin: to set aside a judgment.

Valeat Quantum Valere Potest

Latin: it shall have effect as far as it can have effect.

Vana Est Illa Potentia Quae Nunquam Venit In Actum

Latin: power is vain if never put into action.

Venditio

Latin: a sale.

Venditio Bonorum

Latin: sale of goods.

Verba Fata

Latin: faded, obsolete words.

Verba Fortius Accipiuntur Contra Proferentem

Latin: a contract is interpreted against the person who wrote it.

Videlicet

Latin: to wit or that is to say.

Vigilantibus Et Non Dormientibus Jura Subveniunt

Latin: the law assists those that are vigilant with their rights, and not those that sleep thereupon.

Vinculum Juris

Latin: a legal bound.

Vir

Latin: man or husband.

Viva Voce

Latin: by voice.

Viz

Latin: to wit, that is to say.

Volenti Non Fit Injuria

Latin: to one who is willing, no harm is done.