MAXIMS

TABLE OF ALL USEFUL LEGAL MAXIMS

WITH

TRANSLATIONS.

1. ABSOLUTA sententia expositore non indiget: (2 Inst. 533.)--An absolute sentence requires no exposition.

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2. Abundans cautela non nocet (11 Co. 6.) Abundant caution does no injury.

3. Accessorium non ducit, sed sequitur suum principale: (Finch Law, 128.)-The accessory does not lead, but follows its principal: (MAXIM 1.)

4. Accessorius sequitur naturum sui principalis (3 Inst. 139.) -An accessory follows the nature of its principal.

5. Accusare nemo se debet, nisi coram Deo: (Hawke, 222.)No one is compelled to accuse himself, except before God.

6. Accusator post rationabile tempus non est audiendus, nisi se bene de omissione excusaverit (Moor. 817.)--An accuser is not to be heard after a reasonable time unless he can account satisfactorily for the delay.

7. A communi observantiâ non est recedendum et minimè mutandæ sunt quæ certam interpretationem habent: (Wing. Max. 756.)-Common observance is not to be departed from, and things which have a certain meaning are to be changed as little as possible.

8. Acta exteriora indicant interiora secreta: (8 Co. 146.)— External actions show internal secrets.

9. Actio personalis moritur cum personâ: (Noy. Max. 20.)—A personal right of action dies with the person: (Maxim 2.) 10. Actio non datur non damnificato: (Jenk. Cent. 69.)—An action is not given to him who is not injured,

11. Actionum genera maxime sunt servanda: (Lofft's Rep. 460.) -The correct form of action should be followed.

12. Actori incumbit onus probandi: (Hob. 103.)-The weight of proof lies on a plaintiff.

13. Actus curiæ neminem gravabit: (Jenk. Cent. 118.)—An act of the court hurts no one: (MAXIM 3.)

14. Actus Dei vel legis nemini facit injuriam : (5 Co. 87.)—The act of God or of law is prejudicial to no one : (MAXIM 4.)

15. Actus inceptus cujus perfectio pendet voluntate partium recovari potest; si autem pendet ex voluntate tertiæ personæ vel ex contingenti, revocari non potest: (Bac. Max. Reg. 20.)—An act already begun, the completion of which depends on the will of the parties, may be recalled; but, if it depend on the consent of a third person, or on a contingency, it cannot.

16. Actus judiciarius coram non judice irritus habetur de ministeriali autem à quocunque provenit ratum esto: (Lofft's Rep. 458.)—A judicial act done in excess of authority is not binding; otherwise as to a ministerial act. 17. Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea: (3 Inst. 107.)— The act itself does not constitute guilt unless done with a guilty intent (MAXIM 5.)

18. Ad ea quæ frequentius accidunt jura adaptantur: (2 Inst. 137.) The laws are adapted to those cases which most frequently occur: (MAXIM 6.)

19. Adjournamentum est ad diem dicere seu diem dare: (4 Inst. 27.)-An adjournment is to appoint a day or to give a day. 20. Ad officium justiciariorum spectat, uni cuique coram eis placitanti justitiam exhibere: (2 Inst. 451.)-It is the duty of justices to administer justice to every one seeking it from them.

21. Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio, nisi impediatur sententiâ (Jenk. Cent. 180.)-The antecedent has relation to that which next follows unless thereby the meaning of the sentence is destroyed.

22. Ad quæstionem facti non respondent judices; ad quæstionem juris non respondent juratores: (Co. Litt. 295.)-To questions of fact judges do not answer: To questions of law the jury do not answer: (MAXim 7.)

23. Edificare in tuo proprio solo non licet quod alteri noceat: (3 Inst. 201.)-It is not permitted to build upon one's own land so as it may be injurious to another.

24. Edificatum solo, solo cedit: (Co. Litt. 4 a.)—That which is built upon the land goes with the land.

25. Equitas est perfecta quædam ratio quæ jus scriptum interpretatur et emendat; nulla scriptura comprehensa, sed sola ratione consistens : (Co. Litt. 24.)-Equity is a sort of perfect reason which interprets and amends written law; comprehended in no code, but consistent with reason alone. 26. Equitas est quasi equalitas: (Co. Litt. 24.)—Equity is as it were equality.

27. Equitas sequitur legem: (Gilb. 136.)-Equity follows law. 28. Affinitas dicitur, cùm duæ cognationes, inter se divisæ, per

nuptias copulantur, et altera ad alterius fines accidit: (Co. Litt. 157.)-It is called affinity, when two families, divided from one another, are united by marriage, and one of them approaches the confines of another.

29. Agentes et consentientes, pari pœnâ plectentur: (5 Co. 80.)Parties both acting and consenting, are liable to the same punishment.

30. Alienatio rei prefertur juri accrescendi : (Co. Litt. 185 a.)— Alienation of property is favoured by the law rather than accumulation: (MAXIM 8.)

31. Allegans contraria non est audiendus: (Jenk. Cent. 16.)— Contrary allegations are not to be heard: (MAXIM 9.)

32. Allegans suam turpitudinem non est audiendus: (4 Inst. 279.) A person alleging his own infamy is not to be heard.

33. Alternatica petitio non est audienda: (5 Co. 40.)—An alternative petition is not to be heard.

34. Ambiguitas verborum latens, verificatione suppletur, nam quod ex facto oritur ambiguum verificatione facti tollitur: (Bac. Max. Reg. 23.)-Latent ambiguity of words may be supplied by evidence; for ambiguity arising upon the deed is removed by proof of the deed: (MAXIM 10.)

35. Angliæ jura in omni casu libertati dant favorem: (Fortesc. c. 42.) The laws of England in every case of liberty are favourable.

36. Arbitrium est judicium: (Jenk. Cent. 137.)-An award is a judgment.

37. Arbor dum crescit; lignum cum crescere nescit: (2 Bul. 82.)A tree is so called whilst growing, but wood when it ceases

to grow.

38. Argumentum ab impossibili plurimum valet in lege: (Co. Litt. 92.) An argument deduced from an impossibility greatly avails in law.

39. Argumentum ab authoritate fortissimum est in lege: (Co. Litt. 254.)-An argument from authority is most powerful in law.

40. Argumentum ab inconvenienti plurimum valet in lege: (Co. Litt. 66.)-An argument from inconvenience avails much in law (MAXIM 11.)

41. Argumentum à marjori ad minus negativè non valet; valet è converso: (Jenk. Cent. 281.)—An argument from the greater to the less is of no force negatively, affirmatively it is.

42. Argumentum à simili valet in lege: (Co. Litt. 191.)—An argument from a like case avails in law.

43. Arma in armatos sumere jura sinunt: (2 Jus. 574.)—The laws permit to take arms against armed persons.

44. Assignatus utitur jure auctoris: (Hal. Max. 14.)-That which is assigned takes with it for its use the rights of the assignor (MAXIM 12.)

45. A verbis legis non est recedendum: (5 Co. 118.)-From the words of the law there is not any departure.

46. BENEDICTA est expositio quando res redimitur à destructione : (4 Co. 25.)-Blessed is the exposition by which anything is saved from destruction.

47. Benignè faciendæ sunt interpretationes, propter simplicitatem laicorum, ut res magis valeat quam pereat; et verba intentioni, non è contra, debent inservire: (Co. Litt. 36.) -Liberal constructions of written documents are to be made, because of the simplicity of the laity, and with a view to carry out the intention of the parties and uphold the document; and words ought to be made subservient, not contrary, to the intention: (MAXIM 13.)