Latin for Lawyers

IN PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM

IN PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM [L. to preserve recollection of the mat ter] A deposition taken before trial, to record the recollection of a witness who may not be available at the trial. IN PERSONAM [L. into or against the person] Relief or recovery against a person, not against his property. Pleadings or actions in personam require jurisdiction over the person of the defendant, usually acquired either by personal service or by substituted service. The decisions of equity courts are generally in personam in that they order the defendant himself either to do or to refrain from doing some act. See IN REM; QUASI IN REM. IN PLENA VITA [L. in + plenus / full + vita / life] In the fullness of life. Civilly and physically alive. IN PLENO LUMINE [L. in full light] In the light of day. IN POENAM [L. in + poena / loss, hardship, penalty] By way of punishment or penalty. IN POSSE [L. in + possum, posse / to be able to] To be possible in the future. Potential. See IN ESSE; POSSE IN POTESTATE PARENTIS To be under the control of a parent. IN PRAESENTI At the present time. In the present. Effective at once. See IN FUTURO IN PRAESENTIA ET AUDITU ALIORUM In the presence and hearing of others. IN PRIMIS [L. in + prior, primus / the former, the first] At the very beginning. At first; at the outset. IN PROPRIA PERSONA [L. in + proprius / one’s own + persona / mask, role, part] Sometimes shortened to in pro per or pro per . For one’s self; acting for him self. A litigant who appears in court for his own account and without counsel. Originally, a litigant was required to appear personally before the court to

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