- Cadit quaestio – “the question falls” or “argument collapses.” The matter admits of no further argument.
- Caveat – A caution registered with the public court to indicate to the officials that they are not to act in the matter mentioned in the caveat without first giving notice to the caveator.
- Caveat actor – Let the doer beware.
- Caveat emptor – Let the purchaser beware.
- Caveat venditor – Let the seller beware.
- Certiorari – A writ by which orders passed by an inferior court is quashed.
- Ceteris paribus – Other things being equal.
- Champerty – Financial help is given to a person starting a proceeding against a party, where the person giving help has a share in the damages to be recovered.
- Consensus – Unanimously/By general consent.
- Consensus ad idem – Agreement as to the same thing. (Meeting of the minds)
- Contemporanea Expositio Est Optima Et Fortissimo In Lege – Contemporaneous exposition or interpretation is regarded in law as the best and strongest (most prevailing). The best and surest mode of construing an instrument is to read it in the sense which would have been applied when it was drawn up.
- Contra – To the contrary.
- Contra bonos mores – Against good morals.
- Coram Domino Rege – In the presence of our Lord the King.
- Coram non-judice – Before one who is not a judge.
- Corpus – Body
- Corpus deliciti – Body as proof of crime/The gist of crime. (The facts that constitute an offense.)
- Corpus legis – Body of laws.
- Cuilibet in Sua Arte Perito Est Credendum – Credence should be given to one skilled in his peculiar profession. Credit is to be given to anyone skilled in his own art or profession.
- Cursus curiae estlex curiae – The practice of this Court is the law of the Court. The course of the Court (that is, the course of procedure or practice) is the law of the Court.
- Custos morum – A guardian of morals.
- Cy pres – As nearly as may be practicable/possible. (as near as possible to the testator’s or donor’s intentions when these cannot be precisely followed.)
