Legal Maxims

S.No

Maxim

Meaning

1.       

Actori incumbit probatio.

On the plaintiff rests the proving. The Burden of proof is on the plaintiff.

2.       

Ut res magis valet quam pereat.

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

3.       

Audi alteram partem.

Let the other side be heard as well.

4.       

Actus reus.

Guilty act

5.       

Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.

An act does not make a man guilty, unless there be guilty intention.

6.       

ad hominem.

At the person.

7.       

Actus dei nemini facit injuriam.

The act of God causes injury to no one.

8.       

Volenti non fit injuria.

No injury can be done to a willing person.

9.       

Nullus Commodum Capere Protect De Injuria Sua Propria.

No man can take advantage of his own wrong.

10.   

Ex injuria jus non oritur.

Law (or right) does not arise from injustice.

11.   

Ubi jus ibi remedium.

There is no wrong without a remedy or where there is a legal right there is a remedy.

12.   

Fraus et jus nunquam cohabitant.

Fraud and justice never dwell together.

13.   

Ratio decidendi.

The reason for the decision.

14.   

Obiter dictum.

That which is said in passing.

15.   

Noscitur a sociis.

The meaning of a word can be determined by the context of the sentence.

16.   

Pacta sund servanda.

Agreements must be followed.

17.   

Caveat emptor.

Let the purchaser beware.

18.   

Ad hoc

For the particular end or case at hand.

19.   

Amicus Curiae

A friend of court or member of the Bar who is appointed to assist the court.

20.   

Ante Litem Motam 

Before suit brought; before controversy instituted, or spoken before a lawsuit is brought.

21.   

Corpus delicti

The facts and circumstances constituting a crime and Concrete evidence of a crime, such as a corpse 

22.   

Damnum sine injuria

Damages without injuries.

23.   

 Injuria sine damnum

Injury without damage.

24.   

Ipso facto

By the mere fact.

25.   

Prima facie

On the face of it.

26.   

Animus nocendi.

Intention to harm

27.   

A verbis legis non recedendum est.

A provision of the law shall not depart; or From the words of the law, there must be no departure

28.   

Nemo tenetur accusare se ipsum nisi coram Deo.

No one, except before God.

29.   

Actus curiae neminem gravabit.

Court actions could be heavy.

30.   

Lex Fori 

the law of the country

31.   

Malum in se or Mala in se

Wrong or evil in itself.

32.   

Mandamus

We command’

33.   

Nemo bis punitur pro eodem delicto

Nobody can be twice punished for the same offence.

34.   

Nemo debet esse judex in propria causa or Nemo judex in causa sua or Nemo judex in sua causa

Nobody can be the judge in his own case.

35.   

                        Quo warranto

By what authority

36.   

Quod necessitas non habet legem or Necessitas non habet legem 

Necessity knows no law

37.   

Cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex

The cessation of the reason for the law, ceases the law itself.

38.   

Jus ad rem.

Right to the point.

39.   

Actus me invito, non est meus actus.

The act done by me against my will is not my act.

40.   

Aequitas nunquam contravenit leges.

Equity cannot contradict the law.

41.   

 Ab initio

From the very beginning of the law/ act it was bad

42.   

Actio Personalis Moritur Cum Persona

A personal right of action dies with the person.

43.   

Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

The intent and act must both concur to constitute the crime

44.   

Allegiants Contrarie Non Est Audiendus

He is not be heard who alleges things contradictory to each other

45.   

Animus Possidendi

intention to possess

46.   

Res Integra

An entire thing; an entirely new or untouched matter.

47.   

Res Ipsa Loquitur

The thing speaks for itself

48.   

Res Judicata

 A thing adjudged.

49.   

Ubi jus ibi remedium

Where there is a right, there is a remedy.

50.   

Waiver

 Voluntarily giving up or removing the conditions.

51.   

Uberrima fidei

Utmost good faith.

52.   

Suo Motu 

On its own motion.

53.   

In status quo

In the present state

54.   

Ejudem Generis

Of the same kind

55.   

Noscitur-a-Sociis

It is known from its associates.

56.   

Generalia specialibus non derogant

Things general do not restrict or detract from things special

57.   

Ut res magis valeat quam pereat

Such a construction is to be made that lets the thing have effect rather than let it fail

58.   

Expressio unius est exclusion alterius

The expression of one thing excludes others

59.   

Doli incapax

Incapable of crime.

60.   

De facto

In fact

61.   

De jure

By-law

62.   

Bona vacantia

Goods without an owner

63.   

Lex specialis derogat legi generali

Special law repeals general laws.

64.   

 Lex Posterior Derogat Priori/ Leges Posteriores Priores Contrarias Abrogant 

 A later law repeals an earlier law. A later statute derogates from a prior.

65.   

In absentia

In absence,” or more fully, in the absence of the person involved.

66.   

Ignorantia Facti Excusat Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

 Ignorance of facts may be excused but not ignorance of law 

67.   

Habeas Corpus 

You have the body

68.   

Falsus in Uno Falsus in Omnibus

False in one thing, false in everything.

69.   

Caveat venditor

 seller beware

70.   

Novus actus intervenience

A new act intervening

71.   

Respondeat superior

Let the principal be responsible

72.   

Nemo dat quod non habet

No one can convey a better title than what he himself has

73.   

Ex turpi cause non oritur actio

An action does not arise from a base cause

74.   

Ex nudo pacto non oritur actio

No cause of action arises from a bare promise

75.   

De Minimis Non Curat Lex

The law does not concern itself with trifles

76.   

Delegatus non potest delegare

A delegate himself cannot delegate. A delegated power cannot be further delegated.

77.   

Falsus in Uno Falsus in Omnibus

False in one aspect is false in all respects. False in one thing, false in all.

78.   

Ipse Dixit

He himself said it.

79.   

Modus Operandi

Method of working.

80.   

Nemo Debet Esse Judex in Propria Sua Causa

No man can be judge in his own case. No one ought to be a judge in his own cause.

81.   

Non Obstante

Notwithstanding

82.   

Capere Potest De Injuria Sua Propria

of his own wrong.

83.   

Qui Facit Per Alium Facit Per Se

He who acts by or through another, acts for himself.

84.   

Per Incuriam

By Mistake

85.   

Sub Silentio

Under silence; without any notice being taken