Latin Legal Terms

Actio iniuriarum is a Roman-law action received into South African law to protect personality interests, especially dignity, reputation, and bodily integrity against intentional infringement. In modern South African law

This phrase refers to a legal principle where, in exceptional cases, an action can be brought forth by someone other than the direct party, with the permission and for the benefit of the actual claimant. It is rooted in

Actus legitimus refers to a formal legal act that the law recognises as valid in itself and that traditionally cannot be made subject to a condition or term. In South African private-law and procedural writing, the phras

Actus reus refers to the external, physical element of an offence: the prohibited conduct, together with any required circumstance or consequence defined by the crime. In South African criminal law, liability generally r

This phrase indicates that a legal consequence is established through both a mental element and an outward act. In South African law it is commonly used where intention must be accompanied by conduct showing implementati

Animus manendi denotes the intention to remain in a place and is used in South African law primarily when determining domicile or ordinary residence. It refers to the mental element that, together with physical presence,

This phrase is used to describe the legal principle where a husband’s financial support or maintenance obligations towards his wife, which stems from matrimonial and family law principles. Such terms often reflect histor