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Famous Legal Maxims and Their Short Explanations
Famous Legal Maxims and Their Short Explanations
explanations
1. Acta exteriora iudicant interiora secreta
Outward acts indicate the inward intent.
2. Actio non accrevit infra sex annos
The action has not accrued within six years
3. Actio non datur non damnificato
An action is not given to one who is not injured.
4.Quod per me non possum, nec per alium
What I cannot do through myself, I cannot do through another.
5.NEMO POTEST FACERE PER ALIUM QUOD PER SE NON POTEST
No one can do through another what he cannot do himself.
6. Ubi jus ibi remedium
Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium is a Latin legal maxim which means "where there is a right there is a
remedy".
7. Pacta privata juri publico non derogare possunt
Private contracts cannot derogate from public law.
8. DUO NON POSSUNT IN SOLIDO UNAM REM POSSIDERE
Two cannot possess one thing each in entirety.
9. Contra non valentem agere nulla currit praes c r i p tio
Doctrine of Contra Non Valentem comes from the Latin expression ‘contra non valentem
agere nulla currit praes c r i p tio,' which means “a pres c r i p tion does not run against one
who is unable to act.”
10. MELIOREM CONDITIONEM SUAM FACERE POTEST MINOR DETERIOREM
NEQUAQUAM
A minor can make his position better, never worse.
11. Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea
Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea is a Latin maxim which means that an act to be
illegal, the person should do it with a guilty mind.
12.A Mensa Et Toro
The literal meaning of the term is "from bed and board." A divorce a mensa et toro, is rather
a separation of the parties by act of law, than a dissolution of the marriage.
13. Absoluta Sententia Expositore Non Indiget
Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget is a Latin term. It means ‘an absolute judgment
needs no expositor.’ A sentence that is plain and absolute does not need an expositor.
14. NON REFERT QUID NOTUM SIT JUDICI SI NOTUM NON SIT IN FORMA JUDICII
It matters not what is known to the judge if it is not known judicially.
15. NON DEFINITUR IN JURE QUID SIT CONATUS
What an attempt is, is not defined in law.
16. Nemo debet esse judex in propria causa
No-one should be a judge in his own cause
17. Audi alteram partem
Listen to the other side", or "let the other side be heard as well". It is the principle that no
person should be judged without a fair hearing in which each party is given the opportunity
to respond to the evidence against them.
18. De minimis lex non curat
A common law principle whereby judges will not sit in judgment of extremely minor
transgressions of the law.