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