Latin for Lawyers

FIDUCIARY

FIDUCIARY [L. fiducia / confidence, trust, reliance (from fidere, to trust or rely on)] A relationship founded on trust and reliance. Also, a person placed in a posi tion of trust or responsibility to others, as the trustee of a trust. A person hav ing the duty to act in good faith and with integrity towards others. An adjective used to define documents or relationships which depend on trust or obligation; e.g., fiduciary bond, fiduciary capacity , etc. FIERI [L. past form of verb facere / to make or do] Made or done. FIERI FACIAS To cause it to be done or made. A common law writ of execution enabling a creditor to enforce the collection of a claim that has gone to final judgment, issued to and carried out by the sheriff. See EXTENDI FACIAS; LEVARI FACIAS FIERI FACIAS DE BONIS TESTATORIS A writ of execution directed against the executor of an estate levying upon the goods of the testator to satisfy the testator’s debts. FIERI FECI I have caused to be done. The statement of the sheriff or court officer to the effect that he has satisfied his obligation to execute upon property of the debtor; usually by writing the word “satisfied” across the writ of execution. FILIATION [L. filius / a son] The relationship between father and son. A judicial finding of paternity. FILIATION PROCEEDING A judicial proceeding to establish paternity of, and to impose a consequential duty to support, a child. FILIUS NULLUS [L. filius / son, child + nullus / no, none, not any] The child of no one. The common law designation for an illegitimate child. FINE [L. finis / boundary, border, limit; end] A sum of money exacted from a defendant as punishment for a crime. A civil penalty imposed for infractions or violations of regulations or rules. A forfei ture or penalty sometimes paid by the losing party in a civil litigation. FIRM [L. firmus / strong, stout, durable] Strong or unmovable. Securely fastened. Inflexible. Unchanging, constant. A commercial enterprise having a separate existence and with an identifiable

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