Legal Definitions - ab actis

ab actis

This Latin term refers to an official whose primary responsibility is to manage and maintain public or official records, such as legal documents, registers, or minutes of proceedings. Historically, this role was crucial for ensuring the accuracy and accessibility of important administrative or judicial information.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of an ab actis:

• Imagine a court clerk during a complex trial. This clerk is responsible for meticulously documenting every motion filed, every ruling made by the judge, and the final verdict. They create and maintain the official transcript and record of the entire proceeding.

  This court clerk functions as an ab actis by diligently recording and preserving the authoritative record of the court's actions and decisions, ensuring that all legal proceedings are accurately registered and accessible.

• Consider an official working in a government land registry office. This individual is tasked with recording all property deeds, transfers of ownership, and associated legal documents for a specific jurisdiction. They ensure that these records are accurate, up-to-date, and publicly accessible.

  This registrar embodies the role of an ab actis by systematically maintaining official public records related to property, which are vital for legal certainty and administrative transparency.

• Think of a notary public who certifies the authenticity of signatures on important legal documents like wills, contracts, or affidavits. The notary also typically keeps a detailed journal or logbook of every document they notarize, including the date, type of document, and identities of the signers.

  In this capacity, the notary public performs the function of an ab actis by creating and preserving an official, verifiable record of legal transactions and authentications.