Category Legal Maxims

Nam nemo haeres viventis – For no one is an heir of a living person. Naturae vis maxima est – The force of nature is the greatest. Necessitas non habet legem – Necessity has no law. Necessitas publica est major…

Major continet in se minus – The greater contains the less. Mala fide – In bad faith. Mala grammatica non vitiat chartam – Bad grammar does not vitiate a deed. Mala in se – Bad in themselves. Mala prohibita –…

Laissez-faire – Political theory where a government does nothing to control the market. The policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering. Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant – Subsequent laws repeal prior conflicting ones. Legibus sumptis desinentibus…

Jetsam – Cargo which is thrown off a sinking ship. Judex est lex loquens – A judge is the law speaking. Judex non potest esse testis in propira causa – A judge cannot be witness in his own cause. Judex…

Id est (i.e) – That is. Id quod commune est, nostrum esse dicitur – That which is common is said to be ours. Idem – The same person or thing. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat- Ignorance of law is no excuse.…

Habeas Corpus – You have the body. A writ (court order) that commands an individual or a government official who has restrained another to produce the prisoner at a designated time and place so that the court can determine the…

Generale nihil certum implicat – A general expression implies nothing certain. Generalia praecedunt, specialia sequuntur – Things general precede, things special follow. Generalia specialibus non derogant – Things general do not derogate from things special. General statements or provisions do…

Faciendum – Something which is to be done. Fatum – Beyond human foresight. Factum – An act or deed. Factum probanda – Fact in issue, which is to be proved. Factum probans – Relevant fact. Facultas probationum non est angustanda…

Ei incumbit probatio qui – The onus of proving a fact rests upon the man. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat – The burden of the proof lies upon him who affirms, not he who denies. Ejusdem generis…

Damnum sine injuria – Damage without legal injury. Del credre agent – Is a mercantile agent who in consideration of extra remuneration called a del credre commission undertakes to indemnify his principle against loss arising from the failure of persons with…