Latin for Lawyers

DOGMA

DOGMA [L. a philosophical doctrine (from the Greek)] Codes or formal statements of rules and beliefs. A recitation of established principles. The official pronouncements of a church or ecclesiastical author ity. DOLI CAPAX [L. dolus / fraud, deceit, guile + capax / capable of, fit for] The capacity to distinguish between right and wrong. This capacity must be present in a criminal defendant before he may be convicted of a crime. DOLI INCAPAX Incapable of distiguishing right from wrong. An infant or insane person is said to be doli incapax because he cannot be expected to distinguish right from wrong. DOLUS An intentional or wilful wrong; a harm committed with malice. Also, a fraud or deceit. See CULPA DOMESTIC [L. domesticus / belonging to the house or family ( domus / house)] Belonging or relating to a particular place; e.g., a country, state, etc. Each state has corporations which are domestic to it; i.e., they were organized in that state. Domestic jurisdiction is the power of a court to exercise control over persons, property and acts within its boundaries. DOMICILE [L. domicilium / a dwelling or place of residence] The law distinguishes between a mere residence and a domicile . A domicile is a person’s legal home; i . e . , the place he acknowledges as his principal place and to which he always intends to return. A person may have only one domi cile . This concept is important because it is used to determine citizenship and jurisdiction. See RESIDE; HABITANCY DOMICILIARY [L. domus, domicilium / a house or home; a dwelling] Relating to a person's place of residence. A resident of a particular place, as in “he is a domiciliary of Great Britain”. The administration of a decedent's estate in the state or country of his final residence is called domiciliary administration .

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