Legal Maxims

Ignorantia legis non excusat

Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

Salus populi est suprema lex

The welfare of the people is the supreme law.

Vox Populi, Vox Dei

The voice of the people is the voice of God.

Nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege

There is no crime when there is no law punishing it.

Potius sero quam nunquam

It is better to be late than never.

Nemo est supra legis

No one is above the law.

Dura lex, sed lex

The law is harsh, but it is the law.

Damnum absque injuria

Damage without any legal injury.

Stare decisis et non quieta movere

There must be no departure from settled precedents.

Ubi jus, ibi remedium

When there is a right, there is a remedy.

Res judicata inter partes jus facit

An issue judicially settled between parties is the law of that issue.

Noscitur a sociis

Meaning should be derived from accompanying words.

Ejusdem generis

An enumeration of a class of things includes all others of the same class.

Inclusio unius est exclusio alterius

Those that are included excludes those that are not mentioned.

Lex prospicit non respicit

The law looks forward, not backward.

Pacta sunt servanda

Agreements between the parties must be complied with in good faith.

Res ipsa loquitur

The thing speaks for itself.

Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea

An act does not make a person criminal unless he acted with a criminal mind.

Patria potesta

Parental authority.

Caveat emperor

Buyers beware.

Res perit domino

The thing perishes with its owner.

Jus possidendi

The right to possess.

Jus abutendi

The right to abuse.

Jus fruendi

The right to the fruits.

Jus disponendi

The right to dispose.

Jus vendicadi

The right to recover.

Solutio indebiti

Unjust enrichment.

Cessante ratione cessat ipsa lex

When the reason for the law ceases, the law also ceases to exist.

Nullum tempus occurit regi

Time runs not against the sovereign.

Aedificum solo credit

The building follows the land.