Latin Legal Terms

Definitions and South-African-law usage notes for the Latin terms judges, lawyers, and textbooks routinely cite. Free, indexed, and updated as new terms are curated from our source library.

captus mente
of unsound mind; mentally impaired
This phrase denotes a person who lacks soundness of mind or sufficient mental capacity. In South African legal usage it appears in older authorities and procedural contexts concerning a person’s capacity to litigate, con
#persons#procedure#civil
curator ad litem
guardian for the lawsuit
A curator ad litem is a person appointed by a court to represent and protect the interests of a minor, unborn person, or someone under a legal disability in specific litigation. In South African law, the appointment is p
#procedure#persons#civil